In comparison with traditional gene transfection system, quantum dots (QDs)-based gene vector can not only efficiently transfect foreign genes into cells, but also real-time monitor the process of the transfection of the foreign genes. Up to now, using QDs-based gene vector has achieved the visualization of the cellular uptake of a given genes. The cellular uptake is undoubtedly one of the most important steps for gene transfection. However, to further track and identify the subcellular distribution and intracellular localization of a foreign gene would be greatly helpful for revealing the intracellular target sites of the transfected genes, elucidating the biological actions and processes exerted or caused by the transfected genes, and thereby probing the mechanisms of the transfected genes at the cellular level.
    Prof. Gao’s group recently develops a CdTe QDs-based gene transfection system, which can not only efficiently transfect Survivin antisense oligonucleotides (ASON) into cancer cells, but also offer the possibility of visually tracking the intracellular localization of ASON, thereby demonstrating that perinuclear region is the location where the survivin ASON regulation process occurs (Biomaterials, 2011, 32, 1923-1931).
    The current investigations provide the possibilities to correlate the gene functions with their specific intracellular localization, and thereby pave a novel strategy for the study of the survivin ASON-related biological mechanisms.
                                                                                                                                                                                                           Yilin Li et al.