Nanowires: Quantitative Probing of Cu(2+) Ions Naturally Present in Single Living Cells (Adv. Mater. 21/2016)

Abstract

Quantitative probing of the Cu(2+) ions naturally present in single living cells is accomplished by a probe made from a quantum-dot-embedded-nanowire waveguide. After inserting the active nanowire-based waveguide probe into single living cells, J. H. Je and co-workers directly observe photoluminescence (PL) quenching of the embedded quantum dots by the Cu(2+) ions diffused into the probe as described on page 4071. This results in quantitative measurement of intracellular Cu(2+) ions.

Keywords: PL quenching; active nanowires; intracellular copper ions; single living cells; waveguide probes.