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About PlxBeads

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ProteoColor PlxBeads are acrylic beads encoded with nanocrystals (quantum dots). Unlike standard quantum dots that are size-tunable (i.e. the emission wavelength is determined by the crystal size), those used for ProteoColor PlxBeads are composition-tunable; quantum dot colors are tuned by manipulating semiconductor materials in the core. As a result, all ProteoColor PlxBeads have identical photostability and quantum efficiency, irrespective of emission wavelength. Further, the excitation spectra are broad. Any wavelength below the emission wavelength can be used for excitation. This means that a single wavelength can excite all PlxBeads.

ProteoColor PlxBeads are suited for bead-based assays. They are available functionalized with carboxyl groups to which biological molecules can be conjugated. Alternatively, PlxBeads conjugated to avidin are available for use with biotin-tagged reagents. Carboxyl-functionalized and avidin-conjugated PlxBeads are available in 4 sizes: 100 nm, 500 nm, 1 µm and 5 µm. They are available in the 4 standard colors shown below. Custom colors are available upon request.

Key features of ProteoColor PlxBeads:

• PlxBeads are brighter than dye-encoded beads.

• They have narrow emission wavelengths, making it easier to discern different colors (Figure 1).

• They have superior photostability and show no photobleaching. PlxBeads of all colors are equally photostable.

• Quantum efficiencies are similar for all colors. Thus all colors are equally bright.

• A single wavelength of light can be used to excite all colors of PlxBeads.

• The beads are tuned to provide strong signal on standard instruments such as flow cytometers.

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