A Quantum Dot Photoswitch for DNA Detection,Gene Transfection,and Live‐Cell Imaging |
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| Authors: | Yuzhou Wu Klaus Eisele Mikheil Doroshenko Gerardo Algara‐Siller Ute Kaiser Kaloian Koynov Tanja Weil |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Institute of Organic Chemistry III, Macromolecular Chemistry, Albert‐Einstein‐Allee 11, 89081 Ulm, Germany;2. Max‐Planck‐Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz, Germany;3. Electron Microscopy of Materials Science, University of Ulm, 89069 Ulm, Germany;4. Technical University Ilmenau, 98693 Ilmenau, Germany |
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| Abstract: | Quantum dots (QDs) coated with an albumin‐derived copolymer shell exhibit significant photoresponsiveness to DNA loading and have great potential for investigating gene delivery processes. The QDs reported herein are positively charged, have attractive optical properties, and are noncytotoxic and notably stable in live cells. Their complex formation with plasmid DNA leads to proportionally decreased photoluminescence and efficient gene transfection is observed. Therefore, they are suitable for live‐cell bioimaging and mechanistic studies of nonviral gene delivery. Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy is applied for the first time to investigate individual QDs diffusing in large endosomes inside living cells, and serves as a valuable tool to study the physical properties of QDs inside live cells. The data obtained in this study strongly support the notable stability of these QDs, even in cell endosomes. |
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| Keywords: | fluorescence correlation spectroscopy gene delivery imaging photoluminescence quantum dots |
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