Abstract
We investigated the cellular uptake behavior of non-fluorescent metal nanoparticles (NPs) by use of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) combined with dark-field microscopy (DFM). The uptake of Au NPs inside a single cell could also be identified by DFM first and then confirmed by z-depth-dependent SERS at micrometer resolution. Guided by DFM for the location of Au NPs, an intracellular distribution assay was possible using Raman dyes with unique vibrational marker bands in order to identify the three-dimensional location inside the single cell by obtaining specific spectral features. Au NPs modified by 4-mercaptobenzoic acid (MBA) bearing its -COOH surface functional group were used to conjugate transferrin (Tf) protein using the 1-ethyl-3-[3- dimethylaminopropyl]carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) reaction. The protein conjugation reaction on Au surfaces was examined by means of color change, absorption spectroscopy, and SERS. Our results demonstrate that DFM techniques combined with SERS may have great potential for monitoring biological processes with protein conjugation at the single-cell level. [Figure not available: see fulltext.]
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1635-1643 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry |
| Volume | 401 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2011 Sept |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:This research was supported by the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology (2011-0001316, 2011-0003159, 2010-0026100). This work was also supported by the Development of Characterization Techniques for Nano-materials Safety Project of KRCF.
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Analytical Chemistry
- Biochemistry