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Updated: Apr 25, 2026
Compact Quantum Dots for Single-molecule Imaging
Published on: October 9, 2012
13C-engineered carbon quantum dots for in vivo magnetic resonance and fluorescence dual-response
1State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), Research Center for Analytical Sciences, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China. xbyin@nankai.edu.cn.
Abstract:
(13)C-engineered carbon quantum dots ((13)C-QDs) were used as magnetic resonance (MR) and fluorescence dual-response probe. The enhanced (13)C-MR signal was observed at 171 ppm from carboxylic and carboxyl carbons in (13)C-QDs with 160-fold improvement on signal-to-noise ratio even when no hyperpolarization was applied, whereas the intrinsic fluorescence of C-QDs was still maintained. The stable MR and fluorescence dual-response was successfully used for long-term observation of zebrafish embryonic development. Cross-validation between MR and fluorescence confirmed the distribution of (13)C-QD in zebrafish. (13)C-MR provides specific information about the presence, magnitude, and progression of (13)C-QDs by defining MR intensity, whereas fluorescence reveals the location of (13)C-QDs with its high sensitivity. (13)C-MR and fluorescence was simultaneously observed within (13)C-QDs, and this work may expand the applications of isotope-engineered nanomaterials.
