Technology
CQT Reagents
Our proprietary technology stabilizes nanoparticles so that encompassed fluorescent and magnetic nanocrystals retain their inherent properties in biological applications
CQT's technology combines a hydrophobic group to protect quantum dots and SPIONs from oxidation and a hydrophilic portion of the polymer extends into the aqueous phase. The hydrophilic portion which has a functional group at the terminus allows for conjugation of protein and antibodies.
Advantages
Stability
Loss of fluorescence is a common problem for traditional dyes, tandem dyes and unprotected nanocrystals. CQT's reagents are protected by polymer coating that provides greater resistance to photodegradation and oxidation.
We placed one of our reagents, the MagDot 655 conjugated to anti-human CD4, at room temperature under ambient lighting for two months. Cytocomp cells were then labeled with the MagDot 655 weekly over the course of 2 months and analyzed on a BD LSR-II using a 405 nm excitation laser and Qdot 655 filter for capture. As shown in the histograms, the fluorescent properties of the MagDot remain stable.
Bright Reagents
CQT’s patented MultiDot and MagDot products have multiple QDs encapsulated within a polymer coating, which make them bright fluorophores with distinct spectral signature.
Multiplatform
Owing to the stability and brightness of CQT reagents, users are able to use the reagents in multiple platforms such as bioimaging and flowcytometry. MultiDot 640 conjugated to antibodies targeting cell surface receptors on human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived microglia was used in both microscopy and flow cytometry applications
