Figure 2. Transport efficiency of QDs linked with amino acids to silk glands.

0.56 nM of CdTe QDs was administered via oral injection; water was injected to control samples. (a) The external morphology of silk glands and the content of major amino acids in exocrine silk proteins synthesized by silk glands. (b) Cd ion content 24 h after exposure in multiple tissues, as measured by atomic absorption spectrometry. (c) Characteristic green fluorescence of QDs530 in silk glands 24 h after exposure, and in cocoons 168 h after exposure. *P < 0.05 and **P < 0.01 indicate significant differences, every tissue sample was collected from 5 larvae and tested three times. Bars are 1 cm.