Gao Xiaohu, Yang Lily, Petros John A, Marshall Fray F, Simons Jonathan W, Nie Shuming
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University and Georgia Institute of Technology, 1639 Pierce Drive, Suite 2001, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
Curr Opin Biotechnol. 2005 Feb;16(1):63-72. doi: 10.1016/j.copbio.2004.11.003.
Quantum dots (QDs), tiny light-emitting particles on the nanometer scale, are emerging as a new class of fluorescent probe for in vivo biomolecular and cellular imaging. In comparison with organic dyes and fluorescent proteins, QDs have unique optical and electronic properties: size-tunable light emission, improved signal brightness, resistance against photobleaching, and simultaneous excitation of multiple fluorescence colors. Recent advances have led to the development of multifunctional nanoparticle probes that are very bright and stable under complex in vivo conditions. A new structural design involves encapsulating luminescent QDs with amphiphilic block copolymers and linking the polymer coating to tumor-targeting ligands and drug delivery functionalities. Polymer-encapsulated QDs are essentially nontoxic to cells and animals, but their long-term in vivo toxicity and degradation need more careful study. Bioconjugated QDs have raised new possibilities for ultrasensitive and multiplexed imaging of molecular targets in living cells, animal models and possibly in humans.
量子点（QDs）是纳米级的微小发光粒子，正成为用于体内生物分子和细胞成像的一类新型荧光探针。与有机染料和荧光蛋白相比，量子点具有独特的光学和电子特性：发光尺寸可调、信号亮度提高、抗光漂白以及能同时激发多种荧光颜色。最近的进展已促成了多功能纳米颗粒探针的开发，这些探针在复杂的体内条件下非常明亮且稳定。一种新的结构设计包括用两亲性嵌段共聚物包裹发光量子点，并将聚合物涂层与肿瘤靶向配体和药物递送功能连接起来。聚合物包裹的量子点对细胞和动物基本无毒，但其长期体内毒性和降解需要更仔细的研究。生物共轭量子点为活细胞、动物模型乃至人类体内分子靶点的超灵敏和多重成像带来了新的可能性。
