Spectral Microscopy Resolves Carbon Nanotube Chromatic Diversity in Living Systems

The intrinsic photoluminescence (fluorescence) of carbon nanotubes exhibits unique photostability, narrow bandwidth, near-infrared penetration of biological media, and environmental sensitivity. Advanced biological applications will require the spectral and spatial resolution of individual (n,m) nanotube species’ fluorescence and its modulation within live cells and tissues. We present an imaging approach to resolve nanotubes with single molecule resolution in live mammalian cells, in murine tissues ex vivo, and in live zebrafish endothelium. We used this method to identify chirality-resolved optical properties of single nanotubes in tissues and to precisely quantify fluorescent nanotubes in live cells.