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American Chemical Society, Nano Letters, 11(13), p. 5233-5241, 2013

DOI: 10.1021/nl4026665

Elsevier, Biophysical Journal, 2(106), p. 200a, 2014

DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2013.11.1180

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3D super-resolution imaging with blinking quantum dots

Journal article published in 2013 by Yong Wang ORCID, Gilbert Fruhwirth, En Cai, Tony Ng ORCID, Paul R. Selvin
This paper is available in a repository.
This paper is available in a repository.

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Data provided by SHERPA/RoMEO

Abstract

Quantum dots are promising candidates for single molecule imaging due to their exceptional photophysical properties, including their intense brightness and resistance to photobleaching. They are also notorious for their blinking. Here we report a novel way to take advantage of quantum dot blinking to develop an imaging technique in three-dimensions with nanometric resolution. We first applied this method to simulated images of quantum dots, and then to quantum dots immobilized on microspheres. We achieved imaging resolutions (FWHM) of 8–17 nm in the x-y plane and 58 nm (on coverslip) or 81 nm (deep in solution) in the z-direction, approximately 3–7 times better than what has been achieved previously with quantum dots. This approach was applied to resolve the 3D distribution of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) molecules at, and inside of, the plasma membrane of resting basal breast cancer cells.