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Engineering Luminescent Quantum Dots for In Vivo Molecular and Cellular Imaging

  • Nanobioengineering
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Semiconductor quantum dots are luminescent nanoparticles that are under intensive development for use as a new class of optical imaging contrast agents. Their novel properties such as optical tunability, improved photostability, and multicolor light emission have opened new opportunities for imaging living cells and in vivo animal models at unprecedented sensitivity and spatial resolution. Combined with biomolecular engineering strategies for tailoring the particle surfaces at the molecular level, bioconjugated quantum dot probes are well suited for imaging single-molecule dynamics in living cells, for monitoring protein–protein interactions within specific intracellular locations, and for detecting diseased sites and organs in deep tissue. In this article, we describe the engineering principles for preparing high-quality quantum dots and for conjugating the dots to biomolecular ligands. We also discuss recent advances in using quantum dots for in vivo molecular and cellular imaging.

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Abbreviations

FRET:

fluorescence resonance energy transfer

PEG:

polyethylene glycol

QD:

quantum dot

RES:

reticuloendothelial system

TOP:

trioctylphosphine

TOPO:

trioctylphosphine oxide

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This work was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (P20 GM072069, R01 CA108468, and R01 GM058173), the U.S. Department of Energy Genomes to Life Program, and the Georgia Cancer Coalition (GCC). One of the authors (A.M.S.) acknowledges the Whitaker Foundation for generous fellowship support.

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  1. Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Chemistry, Emory University and Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

    Andrew M. Smith, Gang Ruan, Matthew N. Rhyner & Shuming Nie

  2. Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Chemistry, Emory University and Georgia Institute of Technology, 1639 Pierce Drive, Suite 2001, Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, USA

    Shuming Nie

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Smith, A.M., Ruan, G., Rhyner, M.N. et al. Engineering Luminescent Quantum Dots for In Vivo Molecular and Cellular Imaging. Ann Biomed Eng 34, 3–14 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-005-9000-9

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