Synthesis of CdTe Quantum Dots for Pregnenolone Binding Proteins Targeting and in Vivo Imaging
Date Issued
2010
Date
2010
Author(s)
Liu, Shu-Wei
Abstract
The semiconductor nanocrystal quantum dots (QDs) are versatile fluorophores with unique photophysical properties, including narrow and size-dependent luminescence, broad absorption spectra, and high quantum yields. Bioconjugation of surface functionalized QDs is applied to biological imaging and cellular tracking.1 Embryonic cell movement is essential for morphogenesis and the establishment of body shapes. In previous research, we showed that the steroid hormone, pregnenolone, preserves microtubule abundance and promotes cell movement during epiboly.2 To visualize the interaction between pregnenolone and pregnenolone binding proteins (PBPs) on microtubules, the pregnenolone-conjugated QDs are fabricated as a tool to evidence the pregnenolone-related biological events. Hence, we synthesized a series of functionalized water-soluble QDs with heterobifunctional ligands incorporating dihydrolipoic acid (DHLA), a hydrophilic spacer, and a functional (amino) or nonfunctional (hydroxy) terminus. The length of hydrophilic spacer is studied by comparing triethylene glycol (TEG) spacer and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) spacer. The covalent conjugation will be finally achieved by amide coupling between functional ligands and pregnenolone derivatives. It is hoped tracking the PBPs in embryonic cells of zebrafish can be achieved with these pregnenolone-conjugate QDs.
Subjects
quantum dots
bioconjugates
pregnenolone
biological labelling
cellular imaging
Type
thesis
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