title: Nanostructures as tailored biological probes.
abstract: A new generation of spectroscopic dyes is gradually becoming available to biological researchers, from an unexpected source: materials chemists who study the synthesis and properties of nano-sized inorganic objects. Research into tailoring the optical properties, surface chemistry and biocompatibility of metallic and semiconductor nanoparticles, exemplified in part by a recent report by Mirkin, Schatz and coworkers, is fulfilling the promise of these nanostructures as customizable substitutes for organic molecular probes.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Chemistry, University of Minnesota, 207 Pleasant Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA. taton@chem.umn.edu
authors.forename: T Andrew
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Taton
mesh_terms: D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D004867:Equipment Design; D008863:Microspheres; D015335:Molecular Probes; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D010316:Particle Size; D012666:Semiconductors; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry*; D013057:Spectrum Analysis / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends
chemical_list: D015335:Molecular Probes; D012834:Silver