Micelle-templated composite quantum dots for super-resolution imaging.
Quantum dots (QDs) have tremendous potential for biomedical imaging, including super-resolution techniques that permit imaging below the diffraction limit. However, most QDs are produced via organic methods, and hence require surface treatment to render them water-soluble for biological applications. Previously, we reported a micelle-templating method that yields nanocomposites containing multiple core/shell ZnS-CdSe QDs within the same nanocarrier, increasing overall particle brightness and virtually eliminating QD blinking. Here, this technique is extended to the encapsulation of Mn-doped ZnSe QDs (Mn-ZnSe QDs), which have potential applications in super-resolution imaging as a result of the introduction of Mn(2+) dopant energy levels. The size, shape and fluorescence characteristics of these doped QD-micelles were compared to those of micelles created using core/shell ZnS-CdSe QDs (ZnS-CdSe QD-micelles). Additionally, the stability of both types of particles to photo-oxidation was investigated. Compared to commercial QDs, micelle-templated QDs demonstrated superior fluorescence intensity, higher signal-to-noise ratios, and greater stability against photo-oxidization,while reducing blinking. Additionally, the fluorescence of doped QD-micelles could be modulated from a bright 'on' state to a dark 'off' state, with a modulation depth of up to 76%, suggesting the potential of doped QD-micelles for applications in super-resolution imaging.
William G. Lowrie Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA.
Jianquan
J
Xu
Qirui
Q
Fan
Kalpesh D
KD
Mahajan
Gang
G
Ruan
Andrew
A
Herrington
Kayvan F
KF
Tehrani
Peter
P
Kner
Jessica O
JO
Winter
D005453:Fluorescence; D017895:Manganese Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D008823:Micelles; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry*; D045663:Quantum Dots / Q000737:chemistry*; D018036:Selenium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D059629:Signal-To-Noise Ratio; D017967:Zinc Compounds / Q000737:chemistry
D017895:Manganese Compounds; D008823:Micelles; D018036:Selenium Compounds; D017967:Zinc Compounds