Selective staining of actin in live human dermal fibroblast cells using quantum dots

Udita S. Adurkar; Amit Agrawal; Shuming Nie

doi:10.1117/12.591265

29 March 2005 Selective staining of actin in live human dermal fibroblast cells using quantum dots

Udita S. Adurkar, Amit Agrawal, Shuming Nie

Proceedings Volume 5699, Imaging, Manipulation, and Analysis of Biomolecules and Cells: Fundamentals and Applications III; (2005) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.591265
Event: SPIE BiOS, 2005, San Jose, CA, United States

Abstract

Semiconductor quantum dots (QD) are nanometer size fluorophores with improved brightness, resistance against photobleaching and narrow emission bands. These properties make QDs ideal for ultrasensitive imaging of biomolecules in living cells, in multiplexed format. By conjugating QDs with a delivery agent such as TAT peptide and a target-recognition element such as an antibody, we have delivered and imaged target-specific fluorescent probes in living cells. In this work, we demonstrate staining of actin filaments in living Human Dermal Fibroblast (HDF) cells using QD probes functionalized with monoclonal actin antibody. Actin probes were developed by coupling streptavidin coated QDs (λ_em = 605 nm, QDC Corp.) to biotinylated monoclonal β-actin antibody. Antibody molecules on QDs were conjugated with the TAT peptide. Finally, HDF cells were incubated with the QD-actin antibody-TAT construct. As expected, the characteristic fine streaks of actin filaments were observed in the cells and on the periphery of the cells, similar to phalloidin staining of actin filaments in fixed cells. Using a similar approach, one may image cellular components, proteins or nucleic acids, in a living cell, in real time.

Citation Download Citation

Udita S. Adurkar, Amit Agrawal, and Shuming Nie "Selective staining of actin in live human dermal fibroblast cells using quantum dots", Proc. SPIE 5699, Imaging, Manipulation, and Analysis of Biomolecules and Cells: Fundamentals and Applications III, (29 March 2005); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.591265

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available