Bioorthogonal Fluorescent Nanodiamonds for Continuous Long-Term Imaging and Tracking of Membrane Proteins

Abstract

Real-time tracking of membrane proteins is essential to gain an in-depth understanding of their dynamics on the cell surface. However, conventional fluorescence imaging with molecular probes like organic dyes and fluorescent proteins often suffers from photobleaching of the fluorophores, thus hindering their use for continuous long-term observations. With the availability of fluorescent nanodiamonds (FNDs), which have superb biocompatibility and excellent photostability, it is now possible to conduct the imaging in both short and long terms with high temporal and spatial resolution. To realize the concept, we have developed a facile method (e.g., one-pot preparation) to produce alkyne-functionalized hyperbranched-polyglycerol-coated FNDs for bioorthogonal labeling of azide-modified membrane proteins and azide-modified antibodies of membrane proteins. The high specificity of this labeling method has allowed us to continuously monitor the movements of the proteins of interest (such as integrin α5) on/in living cells over 2 h. The results open a new horizon for live cell imaging with functional nanoparticles and fluorescence microscopy.

Acoustomicrofluidic Concentration and Signal Enhancement of Fluorescent Nanodiamond Sensors

“…Diamond nanoparticles, on the other hand, constitute an attractive lower-cost alternative with excellent photostability, , high surface area, , and biocompatibility. , However, the photoluminescence (PL) signals from diamond nanoparticles in solution often exhibit low signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs). As such, the majority of studies to date have focused on single diamond nanoparticles.…”

Spectroscopic studies of the optical properties of carbon dots: recent advances and future prospects

“…Carbon, one of the richest elements in the universe, usually possesses a number of interesting allotropes. Carbon family materials are mainly composed of fullerenes, 1,2 carbon nanotubes, [3][4][5] diamonds, [6][7][8] graphene, 9,10 graphdiyne 11,12 and carbon dots (CDs). [13][14][15] Among these carbon materials, CDs show the smallest size and superior hydrophilic properties, and exhibit promising applications in catalysis, drug delivery, bio-imaging, bio-sensing and energy devices.…”

Visualization of Sentinel Lymph Nodes with Mannosylated Fluorescent Nanodiamonds

“…[70] We grew PG shells from oxidized, negatively charged FNDs with carboxylate surfaces using ring-opening polymerization of glycidol at 130 °C. Then, we decorated the PG shell with alkyne groups upon copolymerization with glycidyl propargyl ether, [72,73] providing an FND-p sample suitable for bioorthogonal modifications using copper(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (Figure 1B). FND-p contained 4% polymers, as determined by thermogravimetry, and showed a characteristic signature in the FTIR spectrum (Figure S3, Supporting Information).…”