Highly Fluorescent Ribonuclease-A-Encapsulated Lead Sulfide Quantum Dots for Ultrasensitive Fluorescence in Vivo Imaging in the Second Near-Infrared Window.

ABSTRACT: Ribonuclease-A (RNase-A) encapsulated PbS quantum dots (RNase-A@PbS Qdots) which emit in the second near-infrared biological window (NIR-II, ca. 1000-1400 nm) are rapidly synthesized under microwave heating. Photoluminescence (PL) spectra of the Qdots can be tuned across the entire NIR-II range by simply controlling synthesis temperature. The size and morphology of the Qdots are examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and dynamic light scattering (DLS). Quantum yield (Φ_f) measurement confirms that the prepared Qdots are one of the brightest water-soluble NIR-II emitters for in vivo imaging. Their high Φ_f (∼17.3%) and peak emission at ∼1300 nm ensure deep optical penetration to muscle tissues (up to 1.5 cm) and e

SUBMITTER: Kong Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4869608 | biostudies-literature | 2016 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature