量子点荧光探针在生物成像中的应用进展

量子点荧光探针是近几年发展起来的一种新型荧光标记物,拥有荧光染料及荧光蛋白所不能比拟的独特优势,已经在细胞功能研究及细胞表面和内部功能分子的探测、组织的成像和病灶的定位等方面得到了较为广泛的应用。本文对量子点的光学特性、生物化修饰及其在生物成像等方面的应用进展进行了较为详细的介绍,并展望了其应用发展。     

量子点荧光标记技术的研究热点及面临的挑战

半导体量子点作为新型荧光标记物,在生物医学领域具有重要应用．与传统的有机染料及荧光蛋白等荧光标记物相比,半导体量子点具有发光颜色可调、激发范围宽、发射光谱窄、化学及光稳定性好、表面化学丰富以及生物偶联技术成熟等诸多优势,为生命体系的靶向示踪,高灵敏、原位、实时、动态荧光成像,DNA及蛋白质检测,靶向药物,临床医学,生物芯片和传感器等研究提供了新的发展契机．基于作者在半导体量子点生物荧光成像和安全性评价研究的基础,综述了半导体量子点荧光标记物在生命科学与医学领域应用的研究热点,并对半导体量子点荧光标记技术走向实用面临的挑战进行了评述．     

基于量子点的荧光共振能量转移探针的应用

量子点因其独特的光学性质,以及可与有机分子所形成的偶联物的特殊性质,在光学生物标记,由其是荧光共振能量转移(Fluorescence resonance energy transfer,FRET)探针的合成与应用等领域具有广泛的应用前景,并因其实时、准确、灵敏的检测优势,在生物及医学领域始终被热切关注。该文以量子点的优势为基础,分别介绍了用于检测核酸、蛋白酶、生物反应及细胞状态的量子点-FRET探针的研究机理研究进展及应用优势。并对量子点-FRET探针的存在问题及研究方向进行了展望,为进一步进行该领域的研究提供理论支撑。     

特异性的蛋白小分子荧光探针及其标记技术

活体蛋白荧光标记技术已经被广泛应用于蛋白质功能的可视化研究中。荧光蛋白常被用来研究蛋白质在生物体内的表达和定位,但由于它本身体积比较大,往往会影响目标蛋白的生物活性。特异性的小分子荧光探针以其体积小、膜透性好、背景噪音低以及制备方便的优点成为蛋白质研究的一个有力工具。本文将简要介绍近几年来各类特异性小分子蛋白荧光探针的研究进展。     

量子点在生物学中的应用

量子点是一种无机荧光材料,它具有独特的光物理特性,如其激发光谱宽且连续分布,而发射光谱呈对称分布且宽度窄,而且可通过改变量子点内核的尺寸对其发射光波长进行精细调节等。量子点的这些特性正引起人们日益广泛的关注,并在很多领域得到了应用。本文介绍了量子点的组成以及它的光学特性,同时介绍并讨论了近年来量子点在生物学领域应用的进展以及存在的问题。     

基于鞣质的碳量子点荧光探针测定西咪替丁的研究

本研究以鞣花酸为原料,在碱性条件下,采用便捷的超声法制备了碳量子点(CQDs),并用紫外光谱法和荧光光谱法研究了该CQDs与西咪替丁之间的相互作用,研究发现以该CQDs为荧光探针可以测定西咪替丁(CMTD)的含量。研究结果：鞣花酸(0.089 4 mol/L)与氢氧化钠溶液(0.100 0 mol/L)以1:3的比例混合后,在50℃下超声4 h得出的荧光碳量子点与西咪替丁结合,可以使碳量子点的荧光信号减弱。其浓度在1×10^-8～1×10^-7mol/L范围内与碳量子点荧光信号强度的减少值ΔF成良好的线性关系,相关系数r为0.996 42。以此提出用鞣质的碳量子点荧光探针测定西咪替丁的研究,该方法简便高效,可应用于样品中西咪替丁含量的测定,S_RSD范围为0.86%～1.06%;回收率范围为98.18%～103.2%。     

量子点荧光光谱学与生命科学

近年来,量子点(半导体纳米微晶体)的研究引起国内外研究者的广泛兴趣,其研究内容涉及物理学、化学、材料等多学科,已成为一门新兴的交叉学科。虽然量子点在生物学中的应用才刚刚起步,但是已经取得了有意义的进展,成为人们极为关注的一个热点。现就量子点的光学特性、制备方法,以及在生物学中的研究进展和应用前景作一简要综述。     

荧光标记寡核苷酸探针及其应用

寡核苷酸探针的标记非常重要。近年来 ,用荧光染料对探针进行非放射性标记受到很大重视 ,并取得了迅速发展 ,广泛应用于核酸序列测定、基因检测以及疾病诊断等。以下就寡核苷酸探针的荧光标记及其应用作一简要综述。     

量子点-人表皮生长因子纳米荧光探针的制备及其对卵巢癌细胞SKOV-3的识别

在连接试剂1-乙基-3（3-二甲基胺基丙基）碳二亚胺盐酸盐（1-ethyl-3（3-dimethylamino propyl）-carbodiimide,EDC）的作用下,将水相合成的量子点（Quantumdots,QDs）与人表皮生长因子（Epidermal growth factor,EGF）进行了连接,通过毛细管电泳、吸收光谱以及荧光光谱对连接前后的QDs进行了表征,获得的QDs—EGF可识别卵巢癌细胞SKOV-3。     

荧光量子点的生物合成方法研究进展

作为一种新型纳米材料,荧光量子点的合成方法大致可分为物理法、化学法和生物合成法。生物合成方法因其绿色、环保、产物生物相容性好而备受关注。本文通过对国内外荧光量子点生物合成方法的资料研究,以细菌、真菌、其它生物机体、生物辅助等角度对生物合成荧光量子点的方法进行归纳总结,并着重对基于微生物的合成方法进行了分类。在探讨微生物合成机理的基础上,对生物合成法的未来方向提出展望。     

CdTe/ZnS quantum dots as fluorescent probes for ammonium determination

Novel CdTe/ZnS quantum dot (QD) probes based on the quenching effect were proposed for the simple, rapid, and specific determination of ammonium in aqueous solutions. The QDs were modified using 3‐mercaptopropionic acid, and the fluorescence responses of the CdTe/ZnS QD probes to ammonium were detected through regularity quenching. The quenching levels of the CdTe/ZnS QDs and ammonium concentration showed a good linear relationship between 4.0 × 10^?6 and 5.0 × 10^?4 mol/L; the detection limit was 3.0 × 10^?7 mol/L. Ammonium contents in synthetic explosion soil samples were measured to determine the practical applications of the QD probes and a probable quenching mechanism was described. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The synthesis and modification of highly fluorescent carbon quantum dots for reversible detection of water‐soluble phosphonate‐1‐hydroxyethane‐1,1‐diphosphonic acid by fluorescence spectroscopy

Photoluminescent (PL) carbon quantum dots (CQDs) were prepared successfully using a facile and green procedure. They exhibited striking blue fluorescence and excellent optical properties, with a quantum yield as high as 61.44%. Due to the fluorescence quenching effect and the stronger complexing ability of the phosphoric acid group of 1‐hydroxyethane‐1,1‐diphosphonic acid (HEDP) to Fe³⁺ , CQDs doped with Fe³⁺ were adequately constructed as an efficient and sensitive fluorescent probe for HEDP‐specific sensing. The proposed fluorescent probe had a sensitive and rapid response in the range 5–70 μ M. Furthermore, quantitative molecular surface (QMS) analysis based on the Multiwfn program was applied to explore the complexation mode of HEDP and metal ions. The distribution of electrostatic potential (ESP), average local ionization energy (ALIE), the minimum value points and the position of the lone pair electrons on the surface of molecular van der Waals were further determined. More strikingly, this experiment achieved the quantitative detection of water‐soluble phosphonate‐HEDP, for the first time using fluorescence spectrometry. It has been proved to be an effective and intuitive sensing method for the detection of HEDP in real samples.     

Advanced procedures for labeling of antibodies with quantum dots

Semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) are proved to be unique fluorescent labels providing excellent possibilities for high-throughput detection and diagnostics. To explore in full QDs’ advantages in brightness, photostability, large Stokes shift, and tunability by size fluorescence emission, they should be rendered stable in biological fluids and tagged with the target-specific capture molecules. Ideal QD-based nanoprobes should not exceed 15 nm in diameter and should contain on their surface multiple copies of homogeneously oriented highly active affinity molecules, for example, antibodies (Abs). Direct conjugation of QDs with the Abs through cross-linking of QDs’ amines with the sulfhydryl groups issued from the reduced Abs’ disulfide bonds is the common technique. However, this procedure often generates conjugates in which the number of functionally active Abs on the surface of QDs does not always conform to expectations and is often low. Here we have developed an advanced procedure with the optimized critical steps of Ab reduction, affinity purification, and QD–Ab conjugation. We succeeded in reducing the Abs in such a way that the reduction reaction yields highly functional, partially cleaved, 75-kDa heavy–light Ab fragments. Affinity purification of these Ab fragments followed by their tagging with the QDs generates QD–Ab conjugates with largely improved functionality compared with those produced according to the standard procedures. The developed approach can be extended to conjugation of any type of Ab with different semiconductor, noble metal, or magnetic nanocrystals.     

A highly sensitive and selective detection of picric acid using fluorescent sulfur‐doped graphene quantum dots

The development of an analytical probe to monitor highly mutagenic picric acid (PA) carries enormous significance for the environment and for health. A novel, simple and rapid fluorescence analytical assay using sulfur‐doped graphene quantum dots (SGQDs) was designed for the highly sensitive and selective detection of PA. SGQDs were synthesized via simple pyrolysis of 3‐mercaptopropionic acid and citric acid and characterized using advanced analytical techniques. Fluorescence intensity (FI) of SGQDs was markedly quenched by addition of PA, attributed to the inner filter effect and dominating static quenching mechanism between the two, in addition to a significant colour change. The calibration curve of the proposed assay exhibited a favourable linearity between quenched FI and PA concentration over the 0.1–100 μΜ range with a lowest detection limit of 0.093 μΜ and a correlation coefficient of 0.9967. The analytical assay was investigated for detection of trace amounts of PA in pond and rain water samples and showed great potential for practical applications with both acceptable recovery (98.0–100.8%) and relative standard deviation (1.24–4.67%). Analytical performance of the assay in terms of its detection limit, linearity range, and recovery exhibited reasonable superiority over previously reported methods, thereby holding enormous promise as a simple, sensitive, and selective method for detection of PA.     

米糠蛋白的提取及其在食品领域中的应用

基于共价结合原理,以CdTe量子点和介孔二氧化硅为基础,设计和制备了DNA-CdTe/介孔二氧化硅荧光探针.CdTe量子点具有较强的荧光性能,所用DNA适体链是Ramos细胞的识别序列,所以此探针可特异性识别Ramos细胞,并用于激光共聚焦显微镜对Ramos细胞的荧光成像.本工作为肿瘤细胞的早期诊断提供了一定的理论依据.     

Facile labeling of lipoglycans with quantum dots

Bacterial endotoxins or lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are among the most potent activators of the innate immune system, yet mechanisms of their action and in particular the role of glycans remain elusive. Efficient non-invasive labeling strategies are necessary for studying interactions of LPS glycans with biological systems. Here we report a new method for labeling LPS and other lipoglycans with luminescent quantum dots. The labeling is achieved by partitioning of hydrophobic quantum dots into the core of various LPS aggregates without disturbing the native LPS structure. The biofunctionality of the LPS-Qdot conjugates is demonstrated by the labeling of mouse monocytes. This simple method should find broad applicability in studies concerned with visualization of LPS biodistribution and identification of LPS binding agents.     

High quantum yield and well‐dispersed quantum dots luminescent composite through sodium carboxymethyl starch

It is a challenging task to prepare well‐dispersed and highly luminescent quantum dots (QDs) powder and a new strategy is reported in this article. Sodium carboxymethyl starch (CMS‐Na) was employed in this work to prepare the QDs–starch composite. Ultraviolet (UV) light shows that the blank starches had no fluorescence, while the QDs‐starches were highly luminescent. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation shows that the QDs–starch composite has the typical particle morphology with the diameter around 200 nm. Energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDX) results show that there are intensive tellurium (Te) and cadmium (Cd) element signals. Combined fluorescent lifetime and steady‐state spectrometer show that the QDs–starch quantum yields (QYs) increase when the QDs loading increases from 1 × 10^?6 mol/g to 2 × 10^?6 mol/g, but when the loadings further increase, the QYs decrease slightly. For the red colour (λ_em = 660 nm) QDs, the QYs can reach to as high as 28.2%, and for the other colour QDs they can also have the QYs above 22%. Time‐resolved photobleaching experiments show that the fluorescent QDs–starch composite has a half‐decay time of 40.23 s. These results indicate that the CMS‐Na is a promising QDs dispersant to obtain high QY QD composites.     

Studies on quantum dots synthesized in aqueous solution for biological labeling via electrostatic interaction

3-Mercaptopropyl acid-stabilized CdTe nanoparticles synthesized in aqueous solution are effectively bound to a biomacromolecule, papain, via electrostatic interaction. The conjugation between the nanoparticles and the papain is demonstrated by UV-Vis absorption, photoluminescence spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and fluorescence micrographs. The biological activity of papain is maintained after the conjugation. The effects of the quantity of papain and the size of nanoparticles on the fluorescence characteristics of the CdTe-papain bioconjugates were studied.