title: Ensemble and single particle photophysical properties (two-photon excitation, anisotropy, FRET, lifetime, spectral conversion) of commercial quantum dots in solution and in live cells.
abstract: In this work, we characterized streptavidin-conjugated quantum dots (QDs) manufactured by Quantum Dot Corporation. We present data on: (1) two-photon excitation; (2) fluorescence lifetimes; (3) ensemble and single QD emission anisotropy; (4) QDs as donors for Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET); and (5) spectral conversion of QDs exposed to high-intensity illumination. We also demonstrate the utility of QDs for (1) imaging the binding and uptake of biotinylated transferrin on living cells, and (2) resolving by fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) signals originating from QDs from those of spatially and spectrally overlapping visible fluorescent proteins (VFPs).
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Electrónica Cuántica, Departamento de Física, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Pabellón I, Ciudad Universitaria, C1428EHA Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: H E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Grecco
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Lidke
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Heintzmann
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Lidke
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Spagnuolo
authors.forename: O E
authors.initials: OE
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Jares-Erijman
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Jovin
mesh_terms: D016880:Anisotropy; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D031541:Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D049329:Nanostructures; D017785:Photons; D045663:Quantum Dots; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014168:Transferrin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor; D014168:Transferrin