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Multicolor Long-Term Single-Particle Tracking Using 10 nm Upconverting Nanoparticles
João F Shida1,2, Kaibo Ma3,2, Harrison W Toll1,2
1Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States.
Nano Letters
|March 18, 2024
Summary
Upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs) offer photostable, long-term multicolor single-particle tracking (SPT) for biological research. These bright, small probes enable multiplexed tracking in live cells using a single excitation source.
Area of Science:
- Nanotechnology
- Biophysics
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Single-particle tracking (SPT) is vital for understanding molecular behaviors in biological processes.
- Existing SPT methods face limitations due to probe photostability and spectral orthogonality.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop photostable, long-term multicolor SPT probes overcoming current limitations.
- To optimize upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs) for brightness, size, and multicolor capabilities.
Main Methods:
- Investigated core-shell UCNP brightness versus inert shell thickness.
- Explored rare-earth dopants (Tm3+, Er3+, Yb3+) for optimal emission.
- Demonstrated three-color SPT on live HeLa cells using multiplexed 10 nm UCNPs.
Main Results:
- Developed UCNPs exhibiting photostability over several hours for single-particle analysis.
- Identified optimal dopant concentrations for blue, green, and near-infrared UCNP emission.
- Achieved multiplexed three-color SPT in live cells with a single near-infrared excitation source.
Conclusions:
- Photostable and multiplexed UCNPs significantly advance SPT capabilities.
- These UCNPs enable long-term multicolor tracking in biological systems.
- The developed probes open new possibilities for diverse biological applications.
