Stable small quantum dots for synaptic receptor tracking on live neurons.

ABSTRACT

We developed a coating method to produce functionalized small quantum dots (sQDs), about 9 nm in diameter, that were stable for over a month. We made sQDs in four emission wavelengths, from 527 to 655 nm and with different functional groups. AMPA receptors on live neurons were labeled with sQDs and postsynaptic density proteins were visualized with super-resolution microscopy. Their diffusion behavior indicates that sQDs access the synaptic clefts significantly more often than commercial QDs.