Issue 9, 2018

Stable, small, specific, low-valency quantum dots for single-molecule imaging

Abstract

We have developed a strategy for synthesizing immediately activable, water-soluble, compact (∼10–12 nm hydrodynamic diameter) quantum dots with a small number of stable and controllable conjugation handles for long distance delivery and subsequent biomolecule conjugation. Upon covalent conjugation with engineered monovalent streptavidin, the sample results in a population consisting of low-valency quantum dots. Alternatively, we have synthesized quantum dots with a small number of biotin molecules that can self-assemble with engineered divalent streptavidin via high-affinity biotin–streptavidin interactions. Being compact, stable and highly specific against biotinylated proteins of interest, these low-valency quantum dots are ideal for labeling and tracking single molecules on the cell surface with high spatiotemporal resolution for different biological systems and applications.

Graphical abstract: Stable, small, specific, low-valency quantum dots for single-molecule imaging

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
20 Nov. 2017
Accepted
21 Janv. 2018
First published
24 Janv. 2018

Nanoscale, 2018,10, 4406-4414

Stable, small, specific, low-valency quantum dots for single-molecule imaging

J. Lee, X. Feng, O. Chen, M. G. Bawendi and J. Huang, Nanoscale, 2018, 10, 4406 DOI: 10.1039/C7NR08673C

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