Skip to main content

Quantum Dot–Antibody Conjugates via Carbodiimide-Mediated Coupling for Cellular Imaging

  • Protocol
  • First Online:
Quantum Dots: Applications in Biology

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1199))

Abstract

This chapter describes the processes of antibody (Ab) production, purification, conjugation to quantum dots (QDs), and the use of the conjugates produced in intracellular imaging of cell components and structures. Specifically, information is provided on the conjugation of carboxyl surface-terminated QDs to Abs via a one-step reaction using the water-soluble carbodiimide, 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC). The chapter details the process of conjugate optimization in terms of its final fluorescence and biological activity. The method described should guarantee the production of QD–Ab conjugates, which outperform classic organic fluorophore–Ab conjugates in terms of both image definition produced and the longevity of the imaging agent.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Protocol
USD 49.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Johnson ID (ed) (2010) The Molecular Probes® handbook—a guide to fluorescent probes and labeling technologies, 11th edn. Life Technologies™ Corporation, Carlsbad, CA

    Google Scholar 

  2. Valeur B, Berberan-Santos MN (2012) Molecular fluorescence: principles and applications. Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim, Germany

    Book  Google Scholar 

  3. Bruchez M Jr, Moronne M, Gin P, Weiss S, Alivisatos AP (1998) Semiconductor nanocrystals as fluorescent biological labels. Science 281:2013–2016

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Parak WJ, Gerion D, Pellegrino T, Zanchet D, Micheel C, Williams SC, Boudreau R, Le Gros MA, Larabell CA, Alivisatos AP (2003) Biological applications of colloidal nanocrystals. Nanotechnology 14(7):R15–R27

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Alivisatos AP, Gu W, Larabell C (2005) Quantum dots as cellular probes. Annu Rev Biomed Eng 7:55–76

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. http://www.invitrogen.com/site/us/en/home/brands/Molecular-Probes/Key-Molecular-Probes-Products/Qdot/Qdot_Citations.html and others at http://www.invitrogen.com

  7. Giepmans BN, Deerinck TJ, Smarr BL, Jones Y, Ellisman M (2005) Correlated light and electron microscopic imaging of multiple endogenous proteins using quantum dots. Nat Methods 2:743–749

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Kingeter LM, Schaefer BC (2009) Expanding the multicolor capabilities of basic confocal microscopes by employing red and near-infrared quantum dot conjugates. BMC Biotechnol. doi:10.1186/1472-6750-9-49

    Google Scholar 

  9. Li R, Dai H, Wheeler TM, Sayeeduddin M, Scardino PT, Frolov A, Ayala GE (2009) Prognostic value of Akt-1 in human prostate cancer: a computerized quantitative assessment with quantum dot technology. Clin Cancer Res 15:3568–3573

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. http://www.ebioscience.com and http://www.invitrogen.com

  11. Nakajima N, Ikada Y (1995) Mechanism of amide formation by carbodiimide for bioconjugation in aqueous media. Bioconjug Chem 6:123–130

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. East DA, Mulvihill DP, Todd M, Bruce IJ (2011) QD-antibody conjugates via carbodiimide-mediated coupling; a detailed study of the variables involved and a possible new mechanism for the coupling reaction under basic aqueous conditions. Langmuir 27:1388–13896

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. East DA (2010) PhD thesis. University of Kent, Canterbury, UK

    Google Scholar 

  14. Skoumpla K, Coulton AT, Lehman W, Geeves MA, Mulvihill DP (2007) Acetylation regulates tropomyosin function in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. J Cell Sci 120: 1635–1645

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Moreno S, Klar A, Nurse P (1991) Molecular genetic analysis of fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Method Enzymol 194:795–823

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ian James Bruce .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this protocol

Cite this protocol

East, D.A., Todd, M., Bruce, I.J. (2014). Quantum Dot–Antibody Conjugates via Carbodiimide-Mediated Coupling for Cellular Imaging. In: Fontes, A., Santos, B. (eds) Quantum Dots: Applications in Biology. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1199. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1280-3_5

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1280-3_5

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-1279-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-1280-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

Publish with us

Policies and ethics