Semiconductor nanocrystal-based phagokinetic tracking

摘要

Methods for determining metabolic properties of living cells through the uptake of semiconductor nanocrystals by cells. Generally the methods require a layer of neutral or hydrophilic semiconductor nanocrystals and a layer of cells seeded onto a culture surface and changes in the layer of semiconductor nanocrystals are detected. The observed changes made to the layer of semiconductor nanocrystals can be correlated to such metabolic properties as metastatic potential, cell motility or migration.

主权项

1. A method for phagokinetic tracking, comprising:
providing a culture surface for supporting biological activity of living cells; depositing semiconductor nanocrystals on the culture surface, thereby resulting in deposited semiconductor nanocrystals; noting the starting positions of the deposited semiconductor nanocrystals on the culture surface; seeding the cells onto the culture surface; allowing the seeded cells to move and take up the deposited semiconductor nanocrystals; and detecting a phagokinetic track of the cells by observing changes in the positions of the deposited semiconductor nanocrystals after sufficient time has elapsed to allow the seeded cells to move and take up the deposited semiconductor nanocrystals, wherein the changes in the positions of the deposited semiconductor nanocrystals indicate the phagokinetic track of the cell and wherein the detection of a phagokinetic track of the cells indicates the cells having the properties of motility, migration, movement and/or metastatic potential.