Functionalization of and use of functionalized second harmonic generating nanoprobes
First Claim
1. A method of probing structures and biological processes comprising:
- interspersing a functionalized probe nanostructure comprising a nanocrystalline body configured with a biologically relevant functionalization molecule bound to the probe nanostructure through a functionalization platform including a plurality of modifying molecules having amine terminal groups, the modifying molecules being linked to the outer surface of the body through a plurality of hydroxyl molecules, and wherein the nanocrystalline body is formed of a crystal material having an internal crystal structure having a unit cell having no inversion symmetry such that the crystal material generates a second harmonic signal independent of the overall shape of the nanocrystalline body when illuminated by an external excitation source;
the functionalization molecule being selected to target a species of interest, such that the functionalized probe nanostructure interacts with the targeted species of interest;
illuminating the probe nanostructure with an external excitation source; and
detecting the second harmonic signal from the nanoprobe.
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Abstract
Functionalized second harmonic nanoprobes for imaging samples and a method of using such probes to monitor the dynamics different processes using a variety of imaging techniques are provided. The functionalized second harmonic generating (SHG) nanoprobes are comprised of various kinds of nanocrystalline materials that do not possess an inversion symmetry and therefore are capable of generating second harmonic signals that can then be detected by conventional two-photon microscopy, and are provided with functional surface modifications that allow for targeted imaging of a variety of biological and non-biological processes and structures such as cell signaling, neuroimaging, protein conformation probing, DNA conformation probing, gene transcription, virus infection and replication in cells, protein dynamics, tumor imaging and cancer therapy evaluation and diagnosis as well as quantification in optical imaging.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of probing structures and biological processes comprising:
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interspersing a functionalized probe nanostructure comprising a nanocrystalline body configured with a biologically relevant functionalization molecule bound to the probe nanostructure through a functionalization platform including a plurality of modifying molecules having amine terminal groups, the modifying molecules being linked to the outer surface of the body through a plurality of hydroxyl molecules, and wherein the nanocrystalline body is formed of a crystal material having an internal crystal structure having a unit cell having no inversion symmetry such that the crystal material generates a second harmonic signal independent of the overall shape of the nanocrystalline body when illuminated by an external excitation source; the functionalization molecule being selected to target a species of interest, such that the functionalized probe nanostructure interacts with the targeted species of interest; illuminating the probe nanostructure with an external excitation source; and detecting the second harmonic signal from the nanoprobe. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification