title: Selective labeling of the endoplasmic reticulum in live cells with silicon quantum dots.
abstract: A simple and novel approach was developed to obtain water-dispersible silicon quantum dots (Si-QDs) of low toxicity that were able to selectively label the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in live cells. A block copolymer (Pluronic F127) was used to coat the surface of Si-QDs. Si-QDs form aggregates with diameters of 20-40 nm and show an outstanding optical stability upon UV irradiation. Our F127-treated Si-QDs would be a powerful tool for long-term real-time observation of the ER in live cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical System Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Hongo 7-3-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan. shenpeng@chemsys.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Seiichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ohta
authors.forename: Susumu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Inasawa
authors.forename: Yukio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
mesh_terms: D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000737:chemistry*; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D020442:Poloxamer / Q000737:chemistry; D045663:Quantum Dots; D012825:Silicon / Q000737:chemistry*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D020442:Poloxamer; D012825:Silicon