Characterization and cytotoxicity studies of thiol-modified polystyrene microbeads doped with [{Mo6X8}(NO3)6]2-(X = Cl, Br, I)

Halide octahedral molybdenum clusters [{Mo6X8}L6]n– possess luminescence properties that are highly promising for biological applications. These properties are rather dependent on the nature of both the inner ligands X (i.e. Cl, Br, or I) and the apical organic or inorganic ligands L. Herein, the luminescence properties and the toxicity of thiol-modified polystyrene microbeads (PS-SH) doped with [{Mo6X8}(NO3)6]2– (X = Cl, Br, I) were studied and evaluated using human epidermoid larynx carcinoma (Hep2) cell cultures. According to our data, the photoluminescence quantum yield of {Mo6I8}@PS-SH is significantly higher (0.04) than that of {Mo6Cl8}@PS-SH (<0.005) and {Mo6Br8}@PS-SH (<0.005). Treatment of Hep2 cells with {Mo6X8}@PS-SH showed that all three types of doped microbeads had no significant effect on the viability and proliferation of the cells. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.