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Quantum Dots for Imaging Neural Cells In Vitro and In Vivo

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Quantum Dots: Applications in Biology

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1199))

Abstract

Quantum dots (QDs) have been used for optical imaging of neural cells in vitro and in vivo. This chapter lists the basic materials, instrumentation and step-by-step procedures to image live microglia cells and to show the functional and biochemical changes in microglia exposed to QDs. Details are also provided for the real-time imaging of cerebral ischemic lesions in animals and for the assessment of lesion reduction after therapeutic interventions. Microglia are brain cells which detect, internalize, and eliminate particulate matter, thereby maintaining homeostasis in the central nervous system. Although the protocols for imaging microglia shown here are developed for QDs without specific ligands or antibodies, the principles are the same for imaging other QDs.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported in part by grants from CIHR (119425) and NSERC (strategic). AOC was supported by an FRSQ doctoral award.

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Author notes

    Authors and Affiliations

    1. Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, McIntyre Medical Sciences Building, 3655 Promenade Sir-William-Osler, Montreal, QC, Canada, H3G 1Y6

      Angela O. Choi, Kevin D. Neibert & Dusica Maysinger

    Authors
    1. Angela O. Choi
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    2. Kevin D. Neibert
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    3. Dusica Maysinger
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    Corresponding author

    Correspondence to Dusica Maysinger .

    Editor information

    Editors and Affiliations

    1. Research Group on Biomedical Nanotechnology Biophysics and Radiobiology Department, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil

      Adriana Fontes

    2. Research Group on Biomedical Nanotechnology Pharmaceutical Sciences Department, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil

      Beate Saegesser Santos

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    Choi, A.O., Neibert, K.D., Maysinger, D. (2014). Quantum Dots for Imaging Neural Cells In Vitro and In Vivo. In: Fontes, A., Santos, B. (eds) Quantum Dots: Applications in Biology. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1199. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1280-3_15

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    • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1280-3_15

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    • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

    • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-1279-7

    • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-1280-3

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