Functionalized europium nanorods for in vitro imaging.
Emissive europium hydroxide nanorods (ENR) (20 nm x 500 nm) functionalized by a surface coating of chromophore-containing organically modified silicate (ORMOSIL) layer, have been synthesized and characterized by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Low-temperature photophysical characterization of the functionalized nanorods (FENR) demonstrated a strong red 5D0 luminescence both in solid and in suspended solutions. Potentials of this nanorod material for live cell imaging have also been explored. Both the bare and functionalized nanorods are able to enter living human cells with no discernible cytotoxicity. Chromophore-to-Eu3+ energy-transfer in the functionalized nanorods enables staining of the cytoplasm of living human cells. This is confirmed by costaining with fluorescent dextran. The red chromophore-sensitized luminescence from the internalized nanorods in live human lung carcinoma cells (A549) can be observed by confocal microscopy 2 h after loading and reaches maximal emission after 24 h.
Wong
Ka-Leung
KL
Department of Biology and Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong.
Law
Ga-Lai
GL
Murphy
Margaret B
MB
Tanner
Peter A
PA
Wong
Wing-Tak
WT
Lam
Paul Kwan-Sing
PK
Lam
Michael Hon-Wah
MH
D001565:Benzoates / Q000737:chemistry; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002863:Chromogenic Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D005063:Europium / Q000737:chemistry*; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D006801:Humans; D006878:Hydroxides / Q000737:chemistry*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D015394:Molecular Structure; D043942:Nanotubes / Q000737:chemistry*; D012833:Siloxanes / Q000737:chemistry; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D013499:Surface Properties
D001565:Benzoates; D002863:Chromogenic Compounds; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006878:Hydroxides; D012833:Siloxanes; C510784:ormosil; D005063:Europium; C017618:3-phenoxybenzoic acid