Ultrasensitive Imaging in Live Cells Using Fluorescent Quantum Dots

Abstract

Semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) are fluorescent nanoparticles that can be used for biological imaging. Because of their brightness and photostability, which are far superior to those of organic dyes and fluorescent proteins, they can be detected at the single-particle level over long periods of time using standard fluorescence microscopy techniques. QDs can be conjugated to biomolecules and then used to track the motion of these molecules.