Spectral overlap-free quantum dot-based determination of benzo[a]pyrene-induced cancer stem cells by concurrent monitoring of CD44, CD24 and aldehyde dehydrogenase 1.

In this study, it was found that breast cancer stem cells (CSCs) are formed from MCF-7 cells by benzo[a]pyrene (BP)-induced mutation. The breast CSCs were detected through simultaneous monitoring of CD44, CD24 and aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) by hypermulticolor cellular imaging using an acousto-optical tunable filter (AOTF) and quantum dots (Q-dots).