Monitoring the Cd2+ release from Cd-containing quantum dots in simulated body fluids by size exclusion chromatography coupled with ICP-MS

Quantification of Cd 2+ release from Cd-containing quantum dots (QDs) is of fundamental importance to elucidate its toxicity to organisms, but remains a great challenge due to the lack of appropriate analytical method. Herein, a facile method based on size exclusion chromatography (SEC) combined with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was developed for separating and quantifying the QDs and counterpart ions. By using the mixture of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid tetrasodium salt (EDTA) as the mobile phase, the defect of QD and ion adsorption onto the SEC column was overcome, thus realizing the accurate quantification of ionic species. Besides, the concentration of QDs was achieved through subtracting the ion concentration from the total concentration. Selecting CdSe@ZnS as the typical QDs, the Cd 2+ release process in four typical simulated body fluids, namely, simulated gastric fluid, simulated sweat, Gamble’s solution, and artificial lysosomal fluid, was monitored using the developed SEC–ICP–MS method. The media pH is identified as the decisive factor which controls the dissolution of ZnS shells and also the Cd 2+ release kinetics and final concentration. Our results suggest that the oral pathway for QD uptake poses the biggest risk to human health. Graphical abstract