Single-walled carbon nanotubes as near-infrared fluorescence and Raman cell labels

ANYL 133

Daniel A Heller, dheller1@uiuc.edu, Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, RAL 104 Box 93-5 MC 712, 600 S. Mathews Ave, Urbana, IL 61801, Seunghyun Baik, School of Mechanical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 440-746, South Korea, Thomas E. Eurell, teurell@uiuc.edu, Department of Veterinary Biosciences, University of Illinois, 2001 S Lincoln St., 3223 vmbsb, Urbana, IL 61802, and Michael S. Strano, strano@uiuc.edu, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 S. Mathews Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801.
Molecular complexes of single-walled carbon nanotubes and single-stranded DNA oligonucleotides were developed as a new method for cell labeling that did not involve genetic manipulation, nuclear, or plasmalemmal dyes. The complexes are non-photobleaching even when excited at high fluence and shown to be compatible with cytochemical staining. They fluoresce and Raman scatter in the near-infrared region where biological autofluorescence is minimal and tissue penetration is optimal (800-1400 nm). We demonstrate that surface-modified carbon nanotubes undergo rapid cellular uptake and peri-nuclear cytoplasmic distribution using fluorescence imaging and Raman mapping of 3T3 cells and murine myoblast stem cells. Transmission electron microscopy confirmed peri-nuclear localization within the cytoplasm and revealed that nanotubes situate in membrane-bound vessicles. The cells, containing surface-modified carbon nanotubes, remained viable and successfully labeled after 3 months in culture, indicating potentially useful applications such as long-term biolabeling and biosensing.
 

General Papers
7:00 PM-9:00 PM, Sunday, 28 August 2005 Washington DC Convention Center -- Hall A, Poster

Division of Analytical Chemistry

The 230th ACS National Meeting, in Washington, DC, Aug 28-Sept 1, 2005