Quantum-dot-based cell motility assay.
Because of their favorable physical and photochemical properties, colloidal CdSe/ZnS-semiconductor nanocrystals (commonly known as quantum dots) have enormous potential for use in biological imaging. In this report, we present an assay that uses quantum dots as markers to quantify cell motility. Cells that are seeded onto a homogeneous layer of quantum dots engulf and absorb the nanocrystals and, as a consequence, leave behind a fluorescence-free trail. By subsequently determining the ratio of cell area to fluorescence-free track area, we show that it is possible to differentiate between invasive and noninvasive cancer cells. Because this assay uses simple fluorescence detection, requires no significant data processing, and can be used in live-cell studies, it has the potential to be a powerful new tool for discriminating between invasive and noninvasive cancer cell lines or for studying cell signaling events involved in migration.
Department of Anatomy, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
Weiwei
W
Gu
Teresa
T
Pellegrino
Wolfgang J
WJ
Parak
Rosanne
R
Boudreau
Mark A
MA
Le Gros
Daniele
D
Gerion
A Paul
AP
Alivisatos
Carolyn A
CA
Larabell
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D019187:Cadmium Compounds; D002465:Cell Movement; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000379:methods; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D010587:Phagocytosis; D045663:Quantum Dots; D018036:Selenium Compounds; D012666:Semiconductors; D013440:Sulfides; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000502:physiology; D017967:Zinc Compounds
D019187:Cadmium Compounds; D018036:Selenium Compounds; D013440:Sulfides; D017967:Zinc Compounds; C058667:cadmium selenide; C031238:zinc sulfide