Francisco R.A. dos Santos

By Anielle Christine Almeida Silva, Jerusa Maria de Oliveira, Kelen Talita Romão da Silva, Francisco Rubens Alves dos Santos, João Paulo Santos de Carvalho, Rose Kethelyn Souza Avelino, Eurípedes Alves da Silva Filho, Marcelo Duzzioni, Edigar Henrique Vaz Dias, Fábio de Oliveira, Juliana Rodrigues Machado, Malu Mateus Santos, Marcos Vinícius da Silva, Carlo José Freire de Oliveira, Virmondes Rodrigues Junior, Lucas Anhezini and Noelio Oliveira Dantas

This book chapter will comment on fluorescent reporter proteins and nanocrystals’ applicability as fluorescent markers. Fluorescent reporter proteins in the Drosophila model system offer a degree of specificity that allows monitoring cellular and biochemical phenomena in vivo, such as autophagy, mitophagy, and changes in the redox state of cells. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanocrystals (NCs) have several biological applications and emit in the ultraviolet, with doping of europium ions can be visualized in the red luminescence. Therefore, it is possible to monitor nanocrystals in biological systems using different emission channels. CdSe/CdS magic-sized quantum dots (MSQDs) show high luminescence stability in biological systems and can be bioconjugated with biological molecules. Therefore, this chapter will show exciting results of the group using fluorescent proteins and nanocrystals in biological systems.

Part of the book: Bioluminescence

By Anielle C.A. Silva, Eliete A. Alvin, Francisco R.A. dos Santos, Samanta L.M. de Matos, Jerusa M. de Oliveira, Alessandra S. Silva, Éder V. Guimarães, Mirella S. Vieira, Eurípedes A. da Silva Filho, Ricardo S. Silva, Lucas Anhezini, Nilvanira D. Tebaldi and Noelio O. Dantas

This chapter aims to show significant progress that our group has been developing and the applications of several doped semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs), as nanopowders or embedded in glass systems. Depending on the type of dopant incorporated in the nanocrystals, the physical, chemical, and biological properties can be intensified. However, it can also generate undesired toxic effects that can potentially compromise its use. Here we present the potential of zinc oxide NCs doped with silver (Ag), gold (Au), and magnesium (Mg) ions to control bacterial diseases in agriculture. We have also performed biocompatibility analysis of the pure and Ag-doped sodium titanate (Na2Ti3O7) NCs in Drosophila. The doped nanocrystals embedded in glassy systems are chrome (Cr) or copper (Cu) in ZnTe and Bi2Te3 NCs for spintronic development nanodevices. Therefore, we will show several advantages that doped nanocrystals may present in the technological and biotechnological areas.

Part of the book: Materials at the Nanoscale