近场扫描光学成像结合量子点标记的纳米技术在细胞生物学中的应用

近场扫描光学显微镜（NSOM）对传统的光学分辨极限产生了革命性的突破,可在超高光学分辨率下无侵人性和无破坏性地对生物样品进行观测。量子点（QDs）具有极好的光学性能,如荧光寿命长、激发谱宽、生物相容性强、光稳定性好等优点,适合先进的生物成像。NSOM结合QDs标记的纳米技术被应用在细胞生物学中。通过纳米量级NSOM免疫荧光成像（50nm）对特定蛋白分子在细胞表面的动态分布进行可视化研究和数量化分析,阐明了蛋白分子在不同细胞过程中的作用机制。因此,NSOM／QD基成像系统提供了单个蛋白分子最高分辨率的荧光图像,为可视化研究蛋白分子机制的提供了一种强有力的工具。     

近场光学显微镜结合量子点标记人胃腺癌SGC-7901细胞靶点的观察

扫描近场光学显微镜突破衍射极限,具有纳米量级的空间分辨率,量子点(QD s)标记有荧光强度高且抗光漂白能力强等优点。结合上述两种技术,对人胃腺癌SGC-7901细胞膜表面特异性结合的叶酸受体(FR)进行成像探测,获得了叶酸受体在SGC-7901细胞膜表面上的分布,以及细胞内化外源性叶酸过程中叶酸受体在细胞膜表面的分布变化,成像的光学分辨率达到120 nm。实验结果表明:特异性结合的叶酸受体在SGC-7901细胞膜表面的分布,绝大部分是以聚集体的形式存在。随着SGC-7901细胞内化叶酸量的增加,叶酸受体在细胞膜表面的分布密度逐渐降低,并在经过120 m in左右趋于稳定。上述方法和手段为实现单细胞水平上靶点分布和变化的长期监测,肿瘤细胞内化受体的机制研究提供了新的技术途径。     

荧光量子点探针及其标记技术

量子点作为一种新型荧光标记物,与有机染料和荧光蛋白质相比,它们具有可调谐且宽的吸收光谱,激发可产生多重荧光颜色、强荧光信号、抗光漂白能力强等独特的光学特性,使其广泛应用在生物和医学领域。该文就量子点探针的表面修饰和功能化及其标记技术的研究进展进行了阐述。     

量子点在生物医学中的应用

半导体量子点是无机纳米结晶,构成于硒化镉核心和硫化锌外壳.这种荧光标记物的发射光强是常用有机荧光染料的20倍,稳定性是其100倍.量子点的发射波长取决于核心粒子的大小,而每一种单色量子点的发射波长窄而对称.这些光学特性使量子点在医学诊断、药物的高速筛选以及基因和蛋白质的高通量分析方面具有广泛的应用前景.基于量子点的稳定性和生物相容性,有可能通过标记不同颜色的量子点到不同的分子,观察它们在活细胞内的运动.     

量子点光学成像技术在肿瘤诊断和治疗的应用

纳米技术在生物医学的进展使其在肿瘤的诊治中应用日益广泛。荧光纳米粒子中的量子点(Quantum Dots),具备光学成像特性在肿瘤中应用中显示出独特的优势。其作为一种荧光半导体纳米粒子,具有荧光强度高、稳定性强、激发波谱宽、发射波谱窄等光学特性。同时,它可以结合其他功能基团,包括靶向模式、治疗因素和成像探针,为临床肿瘤诊断和治疗提供了新的潜力。本文就量子点的类型和特点及量子点的肿瘤体外和体内成像进行综述。     

固定剂、封片剂、温度及除菌方式对量子点标记细胞的影响

为了为利用量子点标记细胞、组织,进一步研究其功能提供新的方法,本实验观察了3种发射波长的量子点（quautum dost,QDs）对所标记的小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞和正常皮肤的影响。利用发射波长610mm的红色荧光水溶液（量子点610）、发射波长为523mm的绿色荧光水溶液（量子点523）和发射波长576nm的黄色荧光脂溶性溶液（量子点576）的3种量子点（5mg／ml）以及具有吞噬能力的小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞、正常皮肤为载体,观察不同的除菌方式、温度、封片剂及固定剂对量子点标记细胞、组织的影响,为量子点在生物体内的应用及在生物制片过程中对其性能的影响等研究奠定基础。     

用量子点标记活细胞

量子点是一种具有纳米尺寸的半导体晶体。与传统的荧光染料相比,量子点拥有许多独特的光学特性,如宽的吸收谱、窄而对称的发射谱、耐漂白、亮度高和荧光寿命长等。由于其出色的光物理特性和相对较小的尺寸,量子点可作为生物学研究的荧光探针。随着量子点合成与修饰技术的发展,其在生物和医学领域的应用已从探索阶段逐步发展到了应用阶段。将量子点应用于活细胞标记,将为揭示细胞内的复杂生命现象提供全新的视野。该文重点介绍了量子点的荧光特性、用量子点标记活细胞所要克服的障碍及基本的标记策略和方法。     

单克隆抗体ND-1-量子点荧光探针对大肠癌细胞的特异成像研究

目的制备抗人大肠癌单克隆抗体ND-1的量子点荧光探针,实现对大肠癌细胞的靶向成像。方法采用共价偶联方法,以1-乙基-(3-二甲基氨基丙基)碳酰二亚胺盐酸盐(EDC)和N-羟基硫代琥珀酰亚胺(NHS)为缩合剂,通过在反应体系中加入不同摩尔比例的单克隆抗体ND-1和游离量子点QD605进行条件优化,制备偶联产物ND-1-QD605荧光探针;利用荧光光谱扫描技术对ND-1-QD605进行光学特性表征,并检测其抗光漂白能力;利用免疫荧光方法检测ND-1-QD605对大肠癌细胞的靶向结合能力。结果在量子点QD605与单克隆抗体ND-1摩尔比1:40条件下,可实现二者的高效偶联;荧光光谱分析显示ND-1-QD605保留了游离量子点QD605优良的荧光特性;在激发光照射1h内,ND-1-QD605荧光强度未发生明显改变;荧光显微镜观察可见该探针能够与表达有相应抗原LEA的人大肠癌CCL187细胞特异性结合,呈现高灵敏度、特异性荧光成像。结论制备的单克隆抗体ND-1的量子点荧光探针具有大肠癌细胞靶向成像能力,有望为大肠癌的体内靶向成像研究和临床诊断提供新方法。     

量子点在生物学中的研究进展

量子点作为一种新型的荧光标记物近年来已在生物学中获得广泛应用。本文总结了量子点的主要光学特性,其中包括荧光激发和发射光谱特性、量子产额、光漂白特性和荧光寿命等。重点综述了量子点在细胞标记、活体和组织成像、组合标记和光动力学治疗等生物学中的应用及其最新研究进展。同时讨论了量子点在应用中可能存在的细胞毒性等主要问题,最后对量子点在生物学中的应用前景作了展望。     

DNA单分子近场光学成像与荧光探测

介绍了扫描近场光学(SNOM-Scanning Near-Field Optical Microscope)／原子力显微镜（AFM－Atomic Force Microscope)系统（SNO／AM）的工作原理。在AFM模式和SNOM模式下对DNA分子进行成像和荧光探测,得到了清晰的DNA单分子的形貌像和荧光像。由形貌圆像得到的DNA分子尺寸横向为20nm,高度为2nm,其中包含了探针形貌的影响。实验中采Tapping模式的AFM成像,样品经多次搜索扫描无明显损坏。AFM模式的分辨率优于1nm。SNOM模式下DNA分子形貌像和荧光像清晰,由近场荧光分布可以确定分子取向和浓度。用YOYO－1染料对λDNA分子进行染色和荧光探测。通过对DNA分子多个截面进行测量,分析染料 与DNA结合状态。     

Detection of tumor marker CA125 in ovarian carcinoma using quantum dots

The fluorescent labeling of biological materials usingsmall-molecule organic dyes is widely employed in bio-logical imaging and clinical diagnosis. Organic fluoro-phores, however, have certain characteristics that limittheir advantages in some applications. These limitationsinclude narrow excitation bands and broad emissionbands with red spectral tails, which make the simultaneousevaluation of several light-emitting probes difficult due tospectral overlap. Also, many organic dyes exhibit highp…     

Near-field optical imaging of abasic sites on a single DNA molecule

Scanning near-field optical microscopy (SNOM) imaging was performed to allow for the direct visualization of damaged sites on individual DNA molecules to a scale of a few tens of nanometers. Fluorescence in situ hybridization on extended DNA molecules was modified to detect a single abasic site. Abasic sites were specifically labelled with a biotinlylated aldehyde-reactive probe and fluorochrome-conjugated streptavidin. By optimizing the performance of the SNOM technique, we could obtain high contrast near-field optical images that enabled high-resolution near-field fluorescence imaging using optical fiber probes with small aperture sizes. High-resolution near-field fluorescence imaging demonstrated that two abasic sites within a distance of 120 nm are clearly obtainable, something which is not possible using conventional fluorescence in situ hybridization combined with far-field fluorescence microscopy.     

Analysis of CD36 expression on human monocytic cells and atherosclerotic tissue sections with quantum dots: investigation by flow cytometry and spectral imaging microscopy

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate CD36 expression with quantum dots (QDs) 525 and/or 605 on human monocytic U937 cells and atherosclerotic tissue sections by means of flow cytometry (FCM) and/or confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). STUDY DESIGN: U937 cells and tissue sections were analyzed by means of FCM and/or CLSM. FCM was performed, using different ultraviolet (UV) and visible (488/532 nm) excitation modes. In the visible mode, fluorescence intensities of QDs, phycoerythrin (PE) and fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) were compared. Three-dimensional (3-D) sequences of images were obtained by spectral analysis in a CLSM and analyzed by the factor analysis of medical image sequences (FAMIS) algorithm, providing factor curves and images. Factor images are the result of the FAMIS image processing method, which differentiates emission spectra from 3D sequences of images. In CLSM analysis, preparations are screened in a UV excitation mode to optimize the possibilities of QDs and have the benefit of 4',6-diamino-2-phenylindole or Hoechst 33342 counterstaining of nuclei. RESULTS: FCM and CLSM revealed CD36 expression by means of QDs 525 and/or 605. Fluorescence intensity of PE and of FITC was higher than that of QDs 525 and of 605. As factor curves and images show the red emission of QDs 605 only, subsequent reliable identification and localization of CD36 was obtained. CONCLUSION: QDs 525 and 605 are useful to analyze antigenic expression. Following FCM, which is well adapted to detect fluorescence emission of QDs in the UV or visible excitation mode, CLSM and subsequent spectral analysis assess more specific characterization of QD fluorescent emissions.     

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．     

A single molecule investigation of the photostability of quantum dots

Quantum dots (QDs) are very attractive probes for multi-color fluorescence imaging in biological applications because of their immense brightness and reported extended photostability. We report here however that single QDs, suitable for biological applications, that are subject to continuous blue excitation from a conventional 100 W mercury arc lamp will undergo a continuous blue-switching of the emission wavelength eventually reaching a permanent dark, photobleached state. We further show that β-mercaptoethanol has a dual stabilizing effect on the fluorescence emission of QDs: 1) by increasing the frequency of time that a QD is in its fluorescent state, and 2) by decreasing the photobleaching rate. The observed QD color spectral switching is especially detrimental for multi-color single molecule applications, as we regularly observe spectral blue-shifts of 50 nm, or more even after only ten seconds of illumination. However, of significant importance for biological applications, we find that even small, biologically compatible, concentrations (25 μM) of β-mercaptoethanol has a significant stabilizing effect on the emission color of QDs, but that greater amounts are required to completely abolish the spectral blue shifting or to minimize the emission intermittency of QDs.     

Sensitization enhancement of europium in ZnSe/ZnS core/shell quantum dots induced by efficient energy transfer

Eu‐doped ZnSe:/ZnS quantum dots (formed as ZnSe:Eu/ZnS QDs) were successfully synthesized by a two‐step wet chemical method: nucleation doping and epitaxial shell growing. The sensitization characteristics of Eu‐doped ZnSe and ZnSe/ZnS core/shell QD are studied in detail using photoluminescence (PL), PL excitation spectra (PLE) and time‐resolved PL spectroscopy. The emission intensity of Eu ions is enhanced and that of ZnSe QDs is decreased, implying that energy was transferred from the excited ZnSe host materials (the donor) to the doped Eu ions (the acceptor). PLE reveals that the ZnSe QDs act as an antenna for the sensitization of Eu ions through an energy transfer process. The dynamics of ZnSe:Eu/ZnS core/shell quantum dots with different shell thicknesses and doping concentrations are studied via PL spectra and fluorescence lifetime spectra. The maximum phosphorescence efficiency is obtained when the doping concentration of Eu is approximately 6% and the sample showed strong white light under ultraviolet lamp illumination. By surface modification with ZnS shell layer, the intensity of Eu‐related PL emission is increased approximately three times compared with that of pure ZnSe:Eu QDs. The emission intensity and wavelength of ZnSe:Eu/ZnS core/shell quantum dots can be modulated by different shell thickness and doping concentration. The results provide a valuable insight into the doping control for practical applications in laser, light‐emitting diodes and in the field of biotechnology. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Continuous wave two-photon scanning near-field optical microscopy.

We have implemented continuous-wave two-photon excitation of near-UV absorbing fluorophores in a scanning near-field optical microscope (SNOM). The 647-nm emission of an Ar-Kr mixed gas laser was used to excite the UV-absorbing DNA dyes DAPI, the bisbenzimidazole Hoechst 33342, and ethidium bromide in a shared aperture SNOM with uncoated fiber tips. Polytene chromosomes of Drosophila melanogaster and the nuclei of 3T3 Balb/c cells labeled with these dyes were readily imaged. The fluorescence intensity showed the expected nonlinear (second order) dependence on the excitation power in the range of 8-180 mW. We measured the fluorescence intensity as a function of the tip-sample displacement in the direction normal to the sample surface in the single- and two-photon excitation modes (SPE, TPE). The fluorescence intensity decayed faster in TPE than in SPE.     

Comparison of quantum dots immunofluorescence histochemistry and conventional immunohistochemistry for the detection of caveolin-1 and PCNA in the lung cancer tissue microarray

Luminescent semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) are a new class of fluorescent label with wide ranges of applications in cell imaging. In this study, we evaluated the capability of QDs immunofluorescence histochemistry (QDs-IHC) for detecting antigens of caveolin-1 and PCNA in the lung cancer tissue microarray (TMA) in comparison with the conventional immunohistochemistry (IHC) technique. Both methods revealed consistent antigen localization and statistically non-significant detection rates of caveolin-1 and PCNA expressions in our study. However, the sensitivity of QDs-IHC was higher than IHC. The positive detection rates of caveolin-1 and PCNA by QDs-IHC were 57% (40/70) and 86% (60/70), respectively, which were higher than the detection rates of 47% (33/70) and 77% (54/70), respectively, by IHC. Moreover, QDs exhibited a much better photostability, a broader excitation spectrum and a longer fluorescence lifetime. We showed here the advantages of QDs-IHC over IHC for the detection of caveolin-1 and PCNA in lung cancer TMA.