Quantum rod bioconjugates as targeted probes for confocal and two-photon fluorescence imaging of cancer cells.
Live cell imaging using CdSe/CdS/ZnS quantum rods (QRs) as targeted optical probes is reported. The QRs, synthesized in organic media using a binary surfactant mixture, were dispersed in aqueous media using mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA) and lysine. Transferrin (Tf) was linked to the QRs to produce QR-Tf bioconjugates that were used for targeted in vitro delivery to a human cancer cell line. Confocal and two-photon imaging were used to confirm receptor-mediated uptake of QR-Tf conjugates into the HeLa cells, which overexpress the transferrin receptor (TfR). Uptake was not observed with QRs that lacked Tf functionalization or with cells that were presaturated with free Tf and then treated with Tf-functionalized QRs.
Yong
Ken-Tye
KT
Institute for Lasers, Photonics and Biophotonics, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York 14260-4200, USA.
Qian
Jun
J
Roy
Indrajit
I
Lee
Hoon Hi
HH
Bergey
Earl J
EJ
Tramposch
Kenneth M
KM
He
Sailing
S
Swihart
Mark T
MT
Maitra
Anirban
A
Prasad
Paras N
PN
D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D036641:Microscopy, Fluorescence, Multiphoton; D015335:Molecular Probes / Q000737:chemistry; D036103:Nanotechnology; D043942:Nanotubes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D045663:Quantum Dots; D014168:Transferrin / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D015335:Molecular Probes; D014168:Transferrin