title: Luminescent quantum dots for multiplexed biological detection and imaging.
abstract: Recent advances in nanomaterials have produced a new class of fluorescent labels by conjugating semiconductor quantum dots with biorecognition molecules. These nanometer-sized conjugates are water-soluble and biocompatible, and provide important advantages over organic dyes and lanthanide probes. In particular, the emission wavelength of quantum-dot nanocrystals can be continuously tuned by changing the particle size, and a single light source can be used for simultaneous excitation of all different-sized dots. High-quality dots are also highly stable against photobleaching and have narrow, symmetric emission spectra. These novel optical properties render quantum dots ideal fluorophores for ultrasensitive, multicolor, and multiplexing applications in molecular biotechnology and bioengineering.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
authors.forename: Warren C W
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Dustin J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Maxwell
authors.forename: Xiaohu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Robert E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Bailey
authors.forename: Mingyong
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Shuming
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nie
mesh_terms: D001681:Biological Assay; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D012666:Semiconductors