Probing the effects of spectral overlap on quantum-dot-based FRET: Ensemble and single molecule studies

Thomas Pons; Igor L. Medintz; Hedi Mattoussi

doi:10.1117/12.663321

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27 March 2006 Probing the effects of spectral overlap on quantum-dot-based FRET: Ensemble and single molecule studies

Thomas Pons, Igor L. Medintz, Hedi Mattoussi

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Proceedings Volume 6096, Colloidal Quantum Dots for Biomedical Applications; 60960L (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.663321
Event: SPIE BiOS, 2006, San Jose, California, United States

Abstract

The photoluminescence spectrum of a quasi-monodisperse semiconductor quantum dot (QD) population is composed of a continuum of extremely narrow single QD spectra. This is due to inhomogeneities in nanocrystal size within a population and the color-size dependency imposed by effects of carrier quantum confinements. We take advantage of this population heterogeneity to gain a unique insight into the fluorescence resonant energy transfer (FRET) process between a QD donor and proximal dye-labeled protein acceptors. Our ensemble and single-QD studies demonstrate that the spectral dependency of the energy transfer rate matches the acceptor absorption spectrum as predicted by Forster formalism. This allows ratiometric FRET measurements based on the QD donor emission.

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Thomas Pons, Igor L. Medintz, and Hedi Mattoussi "Probing the effects of spectral overlap on quantum-dot-based FRET: Ensemble and single molecule studies", Proc. SPIE 6096, Colloidal Quantum Dots for Biomedical Applications, 60960L (27 March 2006); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.663321

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