My current projects involve utilizing the physical and spectroscopic characteristics of quantum dots for ex vivo cancer diagnostics. Quantum dots are semiconductor nanoparticles that may be tuned by size or composition to emit high-intensity light of varying colors. Their broad excitation spectrum and narrow-FWHM emission allow multiple colors of quantum dots to be excited simultaneously using a single excitation source and for these multiple colors to be resolved. We are working to exploit these and other properties of quantum dots to enable quantitative, multiplexed staining and imaging of a panel of cancer biomarkers in clinical biopsies to assist pathologists in personalizing disease diagnosis and prediction of therapeutic response.

We are also developing solution-based platforms for the sensitive detection of nucleic acids to aid in the early diagnosis of cancer and monitoring of therapeutic efficacy.

Publications and Presentation

Xing Y, Chaudry Q, Shen C, Kwon KY, Zhau HE, Chung LW, Petros JA, O'Regan RM, Yezhelyev MV, Simons JW, Wang MD, Nie S. Bioconjugated quantum dots for multiplexed and quantitative immunohistochemistry. Nat Protoc. 2007; 2(5):1152-65.