Mechanochemical delivery and dynamic tracking of fluorescent quantum dots in the cytoplasm and nucleus of living cells.
Studying molecular dynamics inside living cells is a major but highly rewarding challenge in cell biology. We present a nanoscale mechanochemical method to deliver fluorescent quantum dots (QDs) into living cells, using a membrane-penetrating nanoneedle. We demonstrate the selective delivery of monodispersed QDs into the cytoplasm and the nucleus of living cells and the tracking of the delivered QDs inside the cells. The ability to deliver and track QDs may invite unconventional strategies for studying biological processes and biophysical properties in living cells with spatial and temporal precision, potentially with molecular resolution.
Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1206 West Green Street, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA.
Kyungsuk
K
Yum
Sungsoo
S
Na
Yang
Y
Xiang
Ning
N
Wang
Min-Feng
MF
Yu
D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism*; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism*; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000378:metabolism*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D045663:Quantum Dots
D005456:Fluorescent Dyes