Posted by Fluorescent nanoparticles are those widely used for purposes of fluorescent imaging, mainly of cells and tissues. A strong fluorophore or fluorescent nanoparticles are internalized into cells so that they can be imaged. The only purpose of such fluorophores and nanomaterials is to render cells or tissue fluorescent. They do not possess (and are not expected to possess) affinity for a specific site, nor do they respond (like indicator probes) to the presence of chemical species such as certain ions or organic molecules.
Protein nanoparticles have better biocompatibilities and biodegradability and also have the possibilities for surface modifications. These nanostructures can be synthesized by using protein like albumin, gelatin, whey protein, gliadin, legumin, elastin, zein, soy protein, and milk protein.
- Which fluorescent nanoparticles are used for biological labeling?
Types of fluorescent labelling agents that are commonly used include conventional classes of organic fluorophores such as fluorescein and cyanine dyes, as well as newer types of inorganic nanoparticles such as QDs, and novel fluorescent latex/silica nanobeads.
- How to prepare protein-based fluorescent nanoparticles?
Under benign environmental conditions, protein and fluorescent dye molecules can used to prepare protein-based fluorescent nanoparticles through the cross-linking agent of EDC. The protein molecules are combined with fluorescent dye molecules through the amino groups on the surface, and the protein molecules are aggregated through some ingenious methods, and then the labeled protein molecules are combined with each other through the EDC cross-linking agent to form protein-based fluorescent nanoparticles. The surface of the nanoparticles produced in this way leaves a large number of carboxyl groups, which can be used to bind other biomolecules.
- What are advantages of protein-based fluorescent nanoparticles?
Compared with traditional reagents, protein-based fluorescent nanoparticles have the advantages of small size, high stability, long storage life and good biocompatibility, while retaining their biological activity. In addition, due to biocompatibility, these nanoparticles can quickly enter cells through internalization, so that the fluorescent dye molecules of the particles can be detected by a fluorescence microscope, so as to achieve better cell imaging effects. In this process, glucose oxidase and glucose are necessary for the production of hydrogen peroxide, which can penetrate the cell membrane and allow the nanoparticles to enter the cell.
- Protein-based fluorescent nanoparticles for cell imaging?
As a leading manufacturer and supplier of various nanoparticles, CD Bioparticles provides a series of novel protein-based fluorescent nanoparticles that can be used for super-resolution cell imaging. These proteins as materials are biocompatible with low toxicity, and are completely biodegradable.
Take the DiagNano™ Protein-Based Fluorescent Nanoparticles, 10 nm, Excitation 350 nm as an example. They’re prepared by linking BSA protein and fluorescent dye molecules through the cross-linking agent of EDC under benign environmental conditions which leaved many COOH groups on the particle surface for additional conjugation or manipulations.
References
1. Wolfbeis, O. S. (2015). An overview of nanoparticles commonly used in fluorescent bioimaging. Chemical Society Reviews, 44(14), 4743-4768.
2. Verma, D., Gulati, N., Kaul, S., Mukherjee, S., & Nagaich, U. (2018). Protein based nanostructures for drug delivery. Journal of pharmaceutics, 2018.
3. Wang, F., Tan, W. B., Zhang, Y., Fan, X., & Wang, M. (2005). Luminescent nanomaterials for biological labelling. Nanotechnology, 17(1), R1.