Method for Detecting Single Molecules in Living Cells and System for Use
AssigneeGeorg-August-Universitat Gottingen Stiftung Offenlichen Rechts
InventorsChristoph Schmidt, Nikita Fakhri
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Abstract
The present invention relates in a first aspect to a method for detecting single molecules in living cells based on tracking single molecules labelled with SWNTs (Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube). In a further aspect, the present invention provides a kit comprising at least a SWNT for use in time resolved determination of single molecules in living cells as well as to a system for detecting the presence, in particular, the trajectories of single cells in living cells.
Claims19
A method for detecting single molecules in living cells, comprising the steps of
- providing living cells containing single molecules having a first binding partner;
- providing a Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube (SWNT) functionalized with a polymer having a second binding partner being configured for interaction with the first binding partner of the single molecules present in the living cells;
- introducing said SWNT into said living cells containing single molecules having a first binding partner;
- allowing the formation of a complex of the SWNT and the single molecule present in the cell through binding of the first to the second binding partner;
- irradiating the living cells containing the SWNT with suitable wavelengths for exciting the fluorescence of SWNTs;
- detecting the presence, in particular, the location of the single molecules based on the fluorescence emitted by the excited SWNT-single molecule complex in the infrared range.
A kit comprising at least a SWNT being functionalized with a polymer with a second binding partner being configured for interaction with a first binding partner present in living cells;
- optionally living cells containing single molecules having a first binding partner or plasmids allowing expression of recombinant single molecules having a first binding partner or plasmids allowing expression of a first binding partner binding specifically to the single molecules to be detected for use in time resolved determination of said single molecules in living cells.
A system for detecting the presence, preferably, the localization or trajectories of single molecules in living cells comprising SWNT being functionalized with a polymer with a second binding partner being configured for interaction with a first binding partner present in living cells;
- optionally, a means for introducing said SWNT;
- a source for irradiating a first, and, optionally, a second wavelength and means allowing the detection of the presence and/or the localization of the fluorescence emitted by the SWNT.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.