Issue 40, 2017

A novel type of quantum dot–transferrin conjugate using DNA hybridization mimics intracellular recycling of endogenous transferrin

Abstract

Colloidal nanoparticles such as Quantum Dots (QDs) are promising alternatives to organic fluorophores, especially for long duration bioimaging. For specific targeting applications, QDs frequently require functionalization with selected proteins. In this regard, conjugation of proteins to QDs such that the nanobioconjugates retain the endogenous behavior of the coupled protein remains challenging. We have developed a novel method to conjugate a protein, transferrin (Tf), to QDs using DNA hybridization. These conjugates are characterized biochemically, and the trafficking properties in live cells are investigated. Although the internalization kinetics into the cells is much reduced compared to Tf labelled with organic dye, we could show that DNA hybridization-based QD–Tf conjugates are the first for which recycling from endosomes to the plasma membrane can be observed. This recycling occurs with kinetics that is similar to dye labelled Tf. We could image and follow the trajectories of recycling of individual vesicles for several tens of minutes. The conjugation of QDs to proteins mediated by DNA hybridization yields a new generation of ultra-bright and photostable probes that preserves the intracellular properties of the dye labelled protein better than previously reported QD conjugates using other surface chemistries for direct coupling.

Graphical abstract: A novel type of quantum dot–transferrin conjugate using DNA hybridization mimics intracellular recycling of endogenous transferrin

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
07 Aug. 2017
Accepted
27 Sep. 2017
First published
28 Sep. 2017

Nanoscale, 2017,9, 15453-15460

A novel type of quantum dot–transferrin conjugate using DNA hybridization mimics intracellular recycling of endogenous transferrin

A. Banerjee, C. Grazon, T. Pons, D. Bhatia, C. A. Valades-Cruz, L. Johannes, Y. Krishnan and B. Dubertret, Nanoscale, 2017, 9, 15453 DOI: 10.1039/C7NR05838A

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements