Labeling tumor cells with fluorescent nanocrystal-aptamer bioconjugates.
Aptamers that bind to prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) were conjugated to luminescent CdSe and CdTe nanocrystals for cell-labeling studies. The aptamer-nanocrystal conjugates showed specific targeting of both fixed and live cells that overexpressed PSMA. More importantly, aptamers were able to label cells dispersed in a collagen gel matrix simulating tissue. The specific binding abilities and synthetic accessibility of aptamers combined with the photostability and small size of semiconductor nanocrystals offers a powerful and general tool for cellular imaging.
Chu
Ted C
TC
Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, United States.
Shieh
Felice
F
Lavery
Laura A
LA
Levy
Matthew
M
Richards-Kortum
Rebecca
R
Korgel
Brian A
BA
Ellington
Andrew D
AD
D052158:Aptamers, Peptide / Q000378:metabolism*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003460:Crystallization; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D053758:Nanoparticles; D011485:Protein Binding; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods
D052158:Aptamers, Peptide; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes