Applications of fluorescent quantum dots to stem cell tracing in vivo

Fluorescent quantum dots have great potential to act as labels in biological research, especially cellular tracking in vivo. Here, small thiol molecules-capped CdSe/ZnS quantum dots attached to Tat peptide were used for label agents, and introduced into living stem cells. The stem cells labeled with quantum dots were intravenously injected into the tail veins of NOD/SCID beta2M null mice, and whose tissue sections of major organs of null mice were examined with fluorescence microscope to assess the distribution of transplanted stem cells. Stem cells with internalized quantum dots offer a promising approach in stem cell transplantation, which will hold a significant impact on stem cell based therapy for several disorders.