Cadmium Telluride Quantum Dots as a Fluorescence Marker for Adipose Tissue Grafts

Plastic and reconstructive surgeons increasingly apply adipose tissue grafting in a clinical setting, although the anticipation of graft survival is insecure. There are only few tools for tracking transplanted fat grafts in vivo. Murine adipose tissue clusters were incubated with negatively charged, mercaptoproprionic acid-coated cadmium telluride quantumdots (QDs) emitting in the dark red or near infrared. The intracellular localization of QDs was studied by confocal laser scanning microscopy. As a result, the adipose tissue clusters showed a proportional increase in fluorescence with increasing concentrations (1, 10, 16, 30, 50 nM) of cadmium telluride QDs. Laser scanning microscopy demonstrated a membrane bound localization of QDs. Vacuoles and cell nuclei of adipocytes were spared by QDs. We conclude that QDs were for the first time proven intracellular in adult adipocytes and demonstrate a strong fluorescence signal. Therefore, they may play an essential role for in vivo tracking of fat grafts

Density structure beneath the Rungwe volcanic province and surroundings, East Africa from shear-wave velocity perturbations constrained inversion of gravity data

Density perturbations in the subsurface are the main driver of mantle convection and can contribute to lithospheric deformation. However, in many places the density structure in the subsurface is poorly constrained. Most geodynamic models rely on simplified equations of state or use linear seismic velocity perturbations to density conversions. In this study, we investigate the density structure beneath the Rungwe Volcanic Province (RVP), which is the southernmost volcanic center in the Western Branch of the East African Rift (EAR). We use shear-wave velocity perturbations ((Formula presented.)) as a reference model to perform constrained inversions of satellite gravity data centered on the RVP. We use the code jif3D with a (Formula presented.) -density coupling criterion based on mutual information to generate a 3D density model beneath the RVP up to a depth of 660 km. Our results reveal a conspicuous negative density anomaly (∼−200 kg/m3) in the sublithospheric mantle (at depths ranging from ∼100 km to ∼250 km) beneath the central part of the Malawi Rift extending to the west, beneath the Niassa Craton, coincident with locations with positive shear-wave velocity perturbations (+7%). We calculate a 3D model of the velocity-to-density conversion factor (f) and find negative f-values beneath the Niassa Craton which suggests the observed negative density anomaly is mostly due to compositional variations. Apart from the Niassa Craton, there are generally positive f-values in the study area, which suggest dominance of temperature control on the density structure. Although the RVP generally shows negative density anomalies and positive f-values, at shallow depths (<120 km), f (Formula presented.) 0, which suggests important contributions of both temperature and composition on the density structure possibly due to the presence of plume material. The negative buoyancy of the Niassa Craton contributes to its long stability, while constituting a barrier to the southward flow of plume material, thus restricting the southward continuation of magmatism in the Western Branch of the EAR. The presence of a negative-density anomaly where (Formula presented.) are positive is incompatible with models based on the use of simple (Formula presented.) to density conversion factors. These results have implications on how (Formula presented.) models are converted to density perturbations

tracking of adipose tissue grafts with cadmium-telluride quantum dots

Background Fat grafting, or lipofilling, represent frequent clinically used entities. The fate of these transplants is still not predictable, whereas only few animal models are available for further research. Quantum dots (QDs) are semiconductor nanocrystals which can be conveniently tracked in vivo due to photoluminescence. Methods Fat grafts in cluster form were labeled with cadmium-telluride (CdTe)-QD 770 and transplanted subcutaneously in a murine in vivo model. Photoluminescence levels were serially followed in vivo. Results Tracing of fat grafts was possible for 50 days with CdTe-QD 770. The remaining photoluminescence was 4.9%±2.5% for the QDs marked fat grafts after 30 days and 4.2%± 1.7% after 50 days. There was no significant correlation in the relative course of the tracking signal, when vital fat transplants were compared to non-vital graft controls. Conclusions For the first-time fat grafts were tracked in vivo with CdTe-QDs. CdTe-QDs could offer a new option for in vivo tracking of fat grafts for at least 50 days, but do not document vitality of the grafts