Ensemble and single particle photophysical properties (two-photon excitation, anisotropy, FRET, lifetime, spectral conversion) of commercial quantum dots in solution and in live cells

GRECCO, H E; LIDKE, K A; HEINTZMANN, R; LIDKE, D S; SPAGNUOLO, C; MARTINEZ, O E; JARES-ERIJMAN, E A; JOVIN, T M

MICROSCOPY RESEARCH AND TECHNIQUE.

WILEY-LISS, DIV JOHN WILEY & SONS INC

Año: 2004 vol. 65 p. 169 - 179

1059-910X

In this work, we characterized streptavidin-conjugated quantum dots (QDs) manufactured by Quantum Dot Corporation. We present data on: (1) two-photon excitation; (2) fluorescence lifetimes; (3) ensemble and single QD emission anisotropy; (4) QDs as donors for Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET); and (5) spectral conversion of QDs exposed to high-intensity illumination. We also demonstrate the utility of QDs for (1) imaging the binding and uptake of biotinylated transferrin on living cells, and (2) resolving by fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) signals originating from QDs from those of spatially and spectrally overlapping visible fluorescent proteins (VFPs).