半导体量子点(或称半导体纳米微晶体)具有独特的光谱特性和良好的光化学稳定性。通过改变量子点的材料或粒径大小可在同一波长光激发下获得从紫外到近红外(或从蓝色到红色)波长范围内任意点的发射光谱。随着近年来生物亲和性功能化纳米技术的发展,为半导体量子点用于多通道、高通量对活细胞内蛋白质分子直接观察研究这一国际未解决的难题提供了可能。概述了生物功能化半导体量子点在活细胞生理条件对蛋白质分子进行可视化研究的最新进展,评价了其作为荧光探针对活细胞蛋白质分子进行实时动态研究的发展前景。
In comparison to conventional organic dyes, semiconductor quantum dots(QDs, also known as semiconductor nanocrystals) have unique spectral properties and better photochemical stability. By varying the size and composition of QDs, the emission wavelength can be tuned from the blue to the near infrared. With the development of the bio-functionalized nanotechnology, bioconjugated QDs offers possibility of simultaneous readout of multiple proteins in a living cell. This review focuses on recent advances in visualizing proteins in living cell using bioconjugated QDs. QD-based probes provides the potential to real-time monitor proteins dynamic changes in a single living cell.