Molecular profiling of single cancer cells and clinical tissue specimens with semiconductor quantum dots

Yun Xing, Andrew M Smith, Amit Agrawal, Gang Ruan, Shuming Nie
2006 International Journal of Nanomedicine  
Semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) are a new class of fl uorescent labels with broad applications in biomedical imaging, disease diagnostics, and molecular and cell biology. In comparison with organic dyes and fl uorescent proteins, quantum dots have unique optical and electronic properties such as size-tunable light emission, improved signal brightness, resistance against photobleaching, and simultaneous excitation of multiple fl uorescence colors. Recent advances have led to multifunctional
more » ... particle probes that are highly bright and stable under complex in vitro and in vivo conditions. New designs involve encapsulating luminescent QDs with amphiphilic block copolymers, and linking the polymer coating to tumor-targeting ligands and drug-delivery functionalities. These improved QDs have opened new possibilities for real-time imaging and tracking of molecular targets in living cells, for multiplexed analysis of biomolecular markers in clinical tissue specimens, and for ultrasensitive imaging of malignant tumors in living animal models. In this article, we briefl y discuss recent developments in bioaffi nity QD probes and their applications in molecular profi ling of individual cancer cells and clinical tissue specimens.
doi:10.2147/nano.2006.1.4.473 pmid:17722280 pmcid:PMC2676641 fatcat:kc45u6mmkbbjxn6erahleqoeyy