Abstract

Research on fluorescent semiconductor nanocrystals (also known as quantum dots or qdots) has evolved over the past two decades from electronic materials science to biological applications. We review current approaches to the synthesis, solubilization, and functionalization of qdots and their applications to cell and animal biology. Recent examples of their experimental use include the observation of diffusion of individual glycine receptors in living neurons and the identification of lymph nodes in live animals by near-infrared emission during surgery. The new generations of qdots have far-reaching potential for the study of intracellular processes at the single-molecule level, high-resolution cellular imaging, long-term in vivo observation of cell trafficking, tumor targeting, and diagnostics.

Keywords

Quantum dotNanotechnologyIn vivoFluorescence-lifetime imaging microscopyLive cell imagingIntracellularPreclinical imagingMaterials scienceCellBiophysicsChemistryBiologyFluorescenceCell biologyPhysics

MeSH Terms

AnimalsCell Physiological PhenomenaDiagnostic ImagingDiagnostic Techniques and ProceduresFluorescenceHumansMolecular ProbesQuantum Dots

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Publication Info

Year
2005
Type
review
Volume
307
Issue
5709
Pages
538-544
Citations
7644
Access
Closed

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Cite This

Xavier Michalet, Fabien Pinaud, Laurent A. Bentolila et al. (2005). Quantum Dots for Live Cells, in Vivo Imaging, and Diagnostics. Science , 307 (5709) , 538-544. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1104274

Identifiers

DOI
10.1126/science.1104274
PMID
15681376
PMCID
PMC1201471

Data Quality

Data completeness: 86%