Quantum dot blueing and blinking enables fluorescence nanoscopy

Nano Lett. 2011 Jan 12;11(1):245-50. doi: 10.1021/nl103639f. Epub 2010 Dec 3.

Abstract

We demonstrate superresolution fluorescence imaging of cells using bioconjugated CdSe/ZnS quantum dot markers. Fluorescence blueing of quantum dot cores facilitates separation of blinking markers residing closer than the diffraction barrier. The high number of successively emitted photons enables ground state depletion microscopy followed by individual marker return with a resolving power of the size of a single dot (∼12 nm). Nanoscale imaging is feasible with a simple webcam.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cadmium Compounds / chemistry
  • Cell Line
  • Microtubules / ultrastructure*
  • Photochemical Processes
  • Quantum Dots*
  • Selenium Compounds / chemistry
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Spectrometry, Fluorescence / methods*
  • Stochastic Processes
  • Sulfides / chemistry
  • Zinc Compounds / chemistry

Substances

  • Cadmium Compounds
  • Selenium Compounds
  • Sulfides
  • Zinc Compounds
  • cadmium selenide
  • zinc sulfide