Enhanced fluorescence from semiconductor quantum dot-labelled cells excited at 280 nm

Mollie McFarlane, Nicholas Hall, Gail McConnell

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)
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Abstract

Semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) have significant advantages over more traditional fluorophores used in fluorescence microscopy including reduced photobleaching, long-term photostability and high quantum yields, but due to limitations in light sources and optics, are often excited far from their optimum excitation wavelengths in the deep-UV. Here, we present a quantitative comparison of the excitation of semiconductor QDs at a wavelength of 280 nm, compared to the longer wavelength of 365 nm, within a cellular environment. We report increased fluorescence intensity and enhanced image quality when using 280 nm excitation compared to 365 nm excitation for cell imaging across multiple datasets, with a highest average fluorescence intensity increase of 3.59-fold. We also find no significant photobleaching of QDs associated with 280 nm excitation and find that on average, ~80% of cells can tolerate exposure to high-intensity 280 nm irradiation over a 6-hour period.
Original languageEnglish
Article number025004
Number of pages10
JournalMethods and Applications in Fluorescence
Volume10
Issue number2
Early online date9 Mar 2022
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Apr 2022

Keywords

  • quantum dots
  • fluorescence microscopy
  • cellular imaging
  • ultraviolet excitation

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