Resolving rotational motions of nano-objects in engineered environments and live cells with gold nanorods and differential interference contrast microscopy.
Gold nanorods are excellent orientation probes due to their anisotropic optical properties. Their dynamic rotational motion in the 3D space can be disclosed with Nomarski-type differential interference contrast (DIC) microscopy. We demonstrate that by using the combination of gold nanorod probes and DIC microscopy, we are able to resolve rotational motions of nano-cargos transported by motor proteins at video rate not only on engineered surfaces but also on cytoskeleton tracks in live cells.
Ames Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy, and Department of Chemistry, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, United States.
Gufeng
G
Wang
Wei
W
Sun
Yong
Y
Luo
Ning
N
Fang
D001692:Biological Transport; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D008857:Microscopy, Interference; D008954:Models, Biological; D020409:Molecular Motor Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D015335:Molecular Probes / Q000737:chemistry*; D043942:Nanotubes / Q000737:chemistry*
D020409:Molecular Motor Proteins; D015335:Molecular Probes; D006046:Gold