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Methods for Intracellular Delivery of Quantum Dots

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Abstract

Quantum dots (QDs) have attracted considerable attention as fluorescent probes for life sciences. The advantages of using QDs in fluorescence-based studies include high brilliance, a narrow emission band allowing multicolor labeling, a chemically active surface for conjugation, and especially, high photostability. Despite these advantageous features, the size of the QDs prevents their free transport across the plasma membrane, limiting their use for specific labeling of intracellular structures. Over the years, various methods have been evaluated to overcome this issue to explore the full potential of the QDs. Thus, in this review, we focused our attention on physical and biochemical QD delivery methods—electroporation, microinjection, cell-penetrating peptides, molecular coatings, and liposomes—discussing the benefits and drawbacks of each strategy, as well as presenting recent studies in the field. We hope that this review can be a useful reference source for researches that already work or intend to work in this area.

Graphic Abstract

Strategies for the intracellular delivery of quantum dots discussed in this review (electroporation, microinjection, cell-penetrating peptides, molecular coatings, and liposomes).

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the Brazilian agencies Coordenação de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), and Fundação de Amparo à Ciência e a Tecnologia do Estado de Pernambuco (FACEPE). This work is also linked to the National Institute of Photonics (INCT-INFo) and LARnano/UFPE.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Biofísica e Radiobiologia, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, CB, UFPE, Av. Prof. Moraes Rego, S/N, Recife, PE, 50670-901, Brazil

    Sueden O. Souza & Adriana Fontes

  2. Moleculaire Biofysica, Zernike Instituut, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

    Rafael B. Lira

  3. Laboratório Federal de Defesa Agropecuária em Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil

    Cássia R. A. Cunha

  4. Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil

    Beate S. Santos

  5. Departamento de Química Fundamental, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, CCEN, UFPE, Av. Jornalista Anibal Fernandes, S/N, Recife, 50740-560, PE, Brazil

    Goreti Pereira

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  1. Sueden O. Souza
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  2. Rafael B. Lira
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  3. Cássia R. A. Cunha
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  4. Beate S. Santos
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  5. Adriana Fontes
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  6. Goreti Pereira
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Correspondence to Adriana Fontes or Goreti Pereira.

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Souza, S.O., Lira, R.B., Cunha, C.R.A. et al. Methods for Intracellular Delivery of Quantum Dots. Top Curr Chem (Z) 379, 1 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41061-020-00313-7

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