Researchers at NIST and NIAID have developed a new method using quantum dots to observe cellular processes in living cells over extended periods. Quantum dots are semiconductor nanoparticles that glow when exposed to light, and can be coated with organic materials to target specific proteins within cells.
The team found that quantum dots last longer than traditional fluorescent dyes and proteins, allowing them to monitor dynamic cellular processes while other high-resolution techniques only capture a single moment in time. They demonstrated this by observing the clustering behavior of membrane proteins in human red blood cells, which changes during malaria infection.
The study also revealed that quantum dots’ optical properties change when attached to different nanomaterials and in varying cellular environments, suggesting potential for using them to sense local biochemical conditions inside cells. While concerns remain about toxicity, the research indicates quantum dots could be a valuable tool for investigating dynamic cellular processes.
Keywords: proteins, nanoparticles, quantum dot, biomedical imaging, nanoscale environment
