Labeling of BSA and imaging of mouse T-lymphocyte as well as mouse spleen tissue by L-glutathione capped CdTe quantum dots

摘要

L-glutathione capped highly fluorescent CdTe quantum dots (QDs) were prepared by an aqueous approach and used as fluorescent labels to link albumin bovine serum (BSA) and rat anti-mouse CD4, which was expressed on mouse T-lymphocyte and mouse spleen tissue. The sharp and narrow emission peaks showed that the as-prepared QDs have desirable dispersibility, uniformity and good fluorescence properties. Both CdTe–BSA and CdTe–CD4 conjugates showed an enhancement of fluorescence intensity over that of bare CdTe QDs. The experimental result of gel electrophoresis confirmed the successful conjugation of CdTe–BSA and CdTe–CD4. The fluorescent microscopic images of CdTe–CD4 labeled mouse T-lymphocyte cells and mouse spleen tissue were compared with that obtained from fluorescein isothiocyanate labeling. It was demonstrated that the CdTe QDs-based probe exhibited much better photostability and fluorescence intensity than fluorescein isothiocyanate, showing a good application potential in the immuno-labeling of cells and tissues.