Functionality of receptor targeted zinc-insulin quantum clusters in skin tissue augmentation and bioimaging

Abstract

Quantum clusters with target specificity are suitable for tissue-specific imaging. In the present work, amorphous zinc insulin quantum clusters (IZnQCs) had been synthesised to promote and monitor wound recovery. Easy synthesis, biocompatibility, stability, enhanced quantum yield, and solubility made the cluster suitable for preclinical/clinical exploration. Zn²⁺ is known for its binding to insulin hexamer. Here we report the reformation of the structure in a quantum cluster form in the presence of Zn²⁺. The formation of IZnQCs was confirmed by the change in zeta potential from −25.6 mV to −17.9 mV and also the formation of protein metal interaction was confirmed in FTIR bands at 450, 480, and 613 cm⁻¹ for Zn–O, Zn–N, and Zn–S, respectively. HRTEM-EDS and SAED data analysis showed an amorphous nature of the cluster. The binding of IZnQCs to the cells has been confirmed using confocal microscopy. IZnQCs showed a synergistic effect in wound recovery than insulin or Zn²⁺ alone. Further due to high fluorescence this recovery process can be monitored under an appropriate setup. Wound healing promotional activity, target specificity, and fluorescence properties make the IZnQCs ideal to use for bioimaging along with promoting and monitoring of wound recovery agent.

Keywords:

• Insulin-zinc quantum clusters
• bio-imaging
• wound healing
• receptor targeted delivery
• amorphous quantum-clusters
• protein-metal amorphous cluster

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the Center of Nano and Soft Matter Sciences, Bengaluru for providing the HRTEM-EDS-SAED facility, TPF Nanomission funded GOI project.

Disclosure statement

The authors have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

PK is thankful to DST, the Govt of India, for providing inspire fellowship [award no. IF160636].