Quantitative diagnostic imaging of cancer tissues by using phosphor-integrated dots with ultra-high brightness.

The quantitative sensitivity and dynamic range of conventional immunohistochemistry (IHC) with 3,3'-diaminobenzidine (IHC-DAB) used in pathological diagnosis in hospitals are poor, because enzyme activity can affect the IHC-DAB chromogenic reaction. Although fluorescent IHC can effectively increase the quantitative sensitivity of conventional IHC, tissue autofluorescence interferes with the sensitivity. Here, we created new fluorescent nanoparticles called phosphor-integrated dots (PIDs).