A facile method for immunofluorescence microscopy of highly autofluorescent human retinal sections using nanoparticles with large Stokes shifts

作者：Petty Howard R^*; Elner Victor M; Kawaji Takahiro; Clark Andrea; Thompson Debra; Yang Dong Li

来源：Journal of Neuroscience Methods, 2010, 191(2): 222-226.

DOI：10.1016/j.jneumeth.2010.07.001

• Retina
• Fluorescence
• Nanoparticles
• Human

The human retina is rich in autofluorescent species, such as lipofuscin and melanin. Consequently, it is difficult to localize antigens in the human retina using immunofluorescence microscopy. To address this issue, we have developed a methodology to tag retinal antigens using quantum dot nanoparticles that absorb in the ultraviolet and emit in the infrared, thereby avoiding the visible spectrum. This protocol dramatically improves signal-to-background autofluorescence ratios of immunofluorescence images of human retinal sections, thus enhancing the specific fluorescence in microscopic studies. Of particular note is the ability to detect antigens within the brightly autofluorescent RPE cell layer.

• 出版日期2010-8-30