Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Coated Quantum Dots for Multiplexed Cell Targeting and Imaging. Issue 29 (30th May 2016) - Panagiotopoulou, Maria
Abstract: Advanced tools for cell imaging are of great interest for the detection, localization, and quantification of molecular biomarkers of cancer or infection. We describe a novel photopolymerization method to coat quantum dots (QDs) with polymer shells, in particular, molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs), by using the visible light emitted from QDs excited by UV light. Fluorescent core–shell particles specifically recognizing glucuronic acid (GlcA) or N ‐acetylneuraminic acid (NANA) were prepared. Simultaneous multiplexed labeling of human keratinocytes with green QDs conjugated with MIP‐GlcA and red QDs conjugated with MIP‐NANA was demonstrated by fluorescence imaging. The specificity of binding was verified with a non‐imprinted control polymer and by enzymatic cleavage of the terminal GlcA and NANA moieties. The coating strategy is potentially a generic method for the functionalization of QDs to address a much wider range of biocompatibility and biorecognition issues. Abstract : Labels to tell them apart : The visible light emitted from quantum dots excited by UV light was used to photopolymerize a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) shell around the QDs. The use of different quantum dots with MIP shells that recognize glucuronic acid (green) or N ‐acetylneuraminic acid (red) enabled the multiplexed labeling and imaging of keratinocytes. The labels could be differentiated and quantified on and in the cells.