Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 20, 2026

Compact Quantum Dots for Single-molecule Imaging
17:14

Compact Quantum Dots for Single-molecule Imaging

Published on: October 9, 2012

Probing cell-type-specific intracellular nanoscale barriers using size-tuned quantum dots.

Yvonne Williams1, Alyona Sukhanova, Małgorzata Nowostawska

  • 1Department of Clinical Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 8, Ireland. williamy@tcd.ie

Small (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany)
|August 18, 2009
PubMed
Summary

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

A taxonomy of children and young people's social prescribing models: a multi-site implementation case study in England.

Frontiers in public health·2026
Same author

Effect of Loading Strategy on Methylene Blue Encapsulation in Ethosomes: A Comparative Study of Aqueous and Ethanol Phases.

Methods and protocols·2026
Same author

A Novel Concept of Tissue Micro-Instability as the Underlying Mechanism of Osteophytosis in Human Knee Osteoarthritis.

Biomedicines·2026
Same author

Advancing Esophageal Disease Modeling: Microfluidic Platforms for Adult Tissue-Resident Stem Cell Culture and Differentiation.

Gastro hep advances·2026
Same author

Synergistic effect of DR5-targeted capsules loaded with doxorubicin in drug-resistant 3D tumour spheroids.

Journal of microencapsulation·2025
Same author

Tetrahydroxylated bile acids prevents malignant progression of Barret esophagus <i>in vitro</i> by inhibiting the interleukin-1β-nuclear factor kappa-B pathway.

World journal of gastroenterology·2025

Smaller quantum dots (QDs) penetrate cell nuclei, with passage rates varying by cell type. Larger QDs show reduced entry, demonstrating cell-specific nanoparticle size thresholds for compartmentalization.

Area of Science:

  • Nanotechnology
  • Cell Biology
  • Biomedical Engineering

Background:

  • Semiconductor nanocrystal quantum dots (QDs) are increasingly used in biomedical applications.
  • Understanding nanoparticle behavior within cells is crucial for safety and efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the subcellular compartmentalization of size-tuned quantum dots (QDs) in various human cell lines.
  • To determine how QD size influences penetration into cellular compartments, specifically nuclei and nucleoli.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized fixed and permeabilized cells to isolate physical barriers from active uptake.
  • Employed a high content analysis (HCA) platform for quantitative assessment of QD distribution in large cell populations.
  • Studied QDs of two distinct sizes (2.1 nm and 4.4 nm) across four representative cell lines.

More Related Videos

Production and Targeting of Monovalent Quantum Dots
10:16

Production and Targeting of Monovalent Quantum Dots

Published on: October 23, 2014

Correlative Light- and Electron Microscopy Using Quantum Dot Nanoparticles
11:16

Correlative Light- and Electron Microscopy Using Quantum Dot Nanoparticles

Published on: August 7, 2016

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 20, 2026

Compact Quantum Dots for Single-molecule Imaging
17:14

Compact Quantum Dots for Single-molecule Imaging

Published on: October 9, 2012

Production and Targeting of Monovalent Quantum Dots
10:16

Production and Targeting of Monovalent Quantum Dots

Published on: October 23, 2014

Correlative Light- and Electron Microscopy Using Quantum Dot Nanoparticles
11:16

Correlative Light- and Electron Microscopy Using Quantum Dot Nanoparticles

Published on: August 7, 2016

Main Results:

  • 2.1 nm QDs successfully entered the nuclei and localized to nucleoli in all cell types, with varying passage dynamics.
  • 4.4 nm QDs exhibited reduced cellular penetration, with each cell line showing unique size cutoff thresholds.
  • Results indicate cell-type-specific specificity in penetrating cytoplasmic and nuclear pore barriers.

Conclusions:

  • Nanoparticle size critically dictates subcellular compartmentalization.
  • Cellular barriers exhibit size-dependent selectivity, influencing nanoparticle distribution.
  • Findings have implications for nanoparticle safety, biomedical imaging, and drug delivery systems.