| Quantum Dot Corporation (QDC) has announced a new addition to its nanocrystal-based family of fluorescent labels: the Qdot 705 streptavidin conjugate for ultra-bright, near infra-red bio-detection. QDC also introduces the Qdot 705 Streptavidin Conjugate, the brightest near-infrared fluorophore available by far. This new conjugate is ideal for applications requiring visualization in turbid, opaque or otherwise scattering media such as in vivo experiments. The Qdot 705 Streptavidin conjugate is useful in a wide range of applications, including: immunohistochemistry, in vivo labeling, western blots, solid-phase immunosorbent assays and flow cytometry. Far-red and near-infrared light penetrates much more deeply into samples such as tissues, gels and animals than typical visible light, and also escapes from a greater depth. Additionally, autofluorescent background is significantly diminished in this spectral region, particularly when excitation is in the blue or UV range. Emission is well beyond the spectral range of typical sample autofluorescence. Also, scattering and other optical effects which reduce resolution are minimized in the red. These qualities are now coupled with the exceptional brightness and stability enabled by Qdot nanotechnology. The Qdot 705 Streptavidin conjugate can be used with other colors of Qdot conjugates for multicolor analysis. It is orders of magnitude more photostable than Cy5 streptavidin conjugates and can be excited at many different wavelengths including 633nm, 532, and 405nm – common sources in an array of existing instrument platforms. “At last year’s cell biology meeting, we launched our company’s first product. Since then, the product portfolio has been expanded significantly to include 6 Qdot colors and a range of different biomolecules including antibodies, streptavidin, protein A, and biotin. We are also beginning to see our customers publish landmark scientific papers, enabled by our Qdot products,” said Carol Lou, QDC’s president. Quantum dots are nanoscale crystals of semiconductor material that glow, or fluoresce brightly when excited by a light source such as a laser. They are used by life-science researchers as tiny beacons, or markers, allowing them to easily see individual genes, nucleic acids, proteins or small molecules. Qdot conjugates work by seeking out and bonding with target materials. Once bound to a target, each individual Qdot particle emits light. Depending on their size, they can glow in a variety of colors and are up to 1,000 times brighter than fluorescent dyes. “Development of the Qdot 705 product would not have been possible without the research funding provided by our grant from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Advanced Technology Program,” said Andy Watson, QDC’s vice president of business development. QDC was awarded a multi-million dollar grant in 2000 for the development of novel nanomaterials for bio-medical applications. NIST is a major recipient of funds appropriated under the recent 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act. |