Combines advantages of near infrared with fluorescence and stability of quantum dots for applications requiring visualisation in turbid, opaque, or otherwise scattering media
Qdot 800 streptavidin conjugate, available from Cambridge BioScience, combines the advantages of near infrared with the exceptionally bright fluorescence and superior stability of quantum dots.
This makes it ideal for applications requiring visualisation in turbid, opaque, or otherwise scattering media such as in vivo applications, says the company.
Qdot 800 streptavidin conjugate can be combined with six other Qdot conjugate colours, attached to various biomolecules, for multicolour applications.
All colours can be excited with a single excitation wavelength for easy detection.
For fluorescent imaging, near infrared affords many advantages over visible wavelengths.
Far-red and near-IR light penetrates much more deeply into samples (such as tissues, gels and animals) and escapes from a greater depth in these samples, compared with typical visible light.
In addition, autofluorescent background is significantly diminished in this region of the spectrum, particularly when excitation is carried out in the blue or UV. Scattering and other optical effects which reduce resolution are minimised in the near infrared.
