Quantum Dot Development Service
Quantum dots (QDs) are novel fluorescent probes for bioimaging and tracking with potential use in gene therapy. Our company is dedicated to helping customers design and develop QD-based nanocarriers to enable enhanced nuclear internalization and tracking of gene delivery in vitro and in vivo. We offer a variety of strategies to improve the efficiency of gene transfection and reduce the cytotoxicity of QDs as gene vectors. This is a prerequisite for the clinical use of gene therapy for rare diseases.
Background
QDs have been investigated as potential gene carriers due to their chemical stability and large surface area. More importantly, QDs have excellent optical properties, including size-tunable fluorescence peaks, high resistance to photobleaching, and a broad excitation profile with narrow emission spectra. Due to these advantages, the use of QDs for non-viral gene delivery enables monitoring gene delivery in real-time as it happens.
Several research groups have already reported on the use of QDs in gene delivery. For example, nanostructures of pDNA labeled with phospholipid-coated CdSe/ZnS QDs have been developed for gene transfection and cellular uptake monitoring. Despite the obvious advantages, the cytotoxic effect of QDs in biological systems because of heavy metal leakage is one of the main obstacles to their use in gene therapy. The current emergence of QDs without toxic ions, in particular graphene quantum dots (GQDs), offers the possibility of developing safe QD-based vectors for both gene delivery and tracking.
Fig. 1 Schematic illustration of preparation steps of the Mn:ZnSe QD-based siRNA carriers. (Zhao M X, et al., 2016)
Our Services
Our researchers help customers synthesize a series of QDs with small size, low toxicity, positive charge, and strong optical emission characteristics, allowing the QDs to be potential carriers for gene delivery in vitro and in vivo and as fluorescent probes for tracking the delivery of genes into nuclei. We also provide a variety of characterization services to prove that the QD-based nano-carriers produced have good biocompatibility, new gene loading ability, weak acid-induced gene release, and fluorescence imaging tracking, and are suitable for gene delivery. Our services include, but are not limited to:
- Synthesis of QDs
We provide a variety of methods such as hot colloid synthesis to help our customers synthesize many high-quality QDs, including many types of core/shell QDs such as CdSe/ZnSe QDs, CdSe/CdS/ZnS, CdTe/CdSe and InP/ZnS. We also offer a top-down approach involving the cutting of larger materials from graphene into GQDs to help our customers synthesize GQDs. - Modification of QDs
We offer a variety of modification strategies to manipulate the surface of QDs and help our customers synthesize QDs-based vectors for efficient gene delivery. For example, the preparation of CdSe aqueous QDs electrostatically coated with polyethyleneimine and pseudohomogeneous nanocarriers based on carbon QDs decorated with arginine. - Characterization of QDs
We offer a wide range of techniques such as Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Atomic force microscopy (AFM), Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) mapping, and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) to provide our customers with a comprehensive characterization of QDs. - DNA loading test
We provide the zeta-potential test and the agarose gel electrophoresis analysis for the rapid characterization of gene loading of QDs-based vectors for gene delivery. - Cell viability test
We provide an evaluation of the cytotoxicity of nonviral nanocomposite vectors using the MTT assay. - Transfection assay
We provide cellular bioimaging, transfection assay, and fluorimetric assay to investigate the transfection efficiency of QD-based nanocarrier and genetic material complex.
Our company has extensive knowledge and experience in developing non-viral targeting vectors for the efficient delivery of genetic material to cells. We provide our customers with expert scientific services and technical support for the design and manufacture of QD-based nanocarriers. If you are interested in our services, please contact us for more details and a quotation.
Reference
- Zhao, M. X.; Zhu, B. J. The research and applications of quantum dots as nano-carriers for targeted drug delivery and cancer therapy. Nanoscale Research Letters, 2016, 11(1): 1-9.
All of our services and products are intended for preclinical research use only and cannot be used to diagnose, treat or manage patients.
