title: Bioconjugation of InGaP quantum dots for molecular sensing.
abstract: Fluorescence-based molecular sensing and cellular imaging are commonly carried out with the application of organic dyes. Quantum dots (QDs) are now recognized as better tools because they are brighter, size tunable, and more photostable than dyes. Most of the proposed QD-based biosensing systems involve elements of known toxicity. The present work reports the functionalization of biocompatible InGaP/ZnS core-shell QDs with anti-bovine serum albumin (anti-BSA) to exploit them as fluorescent probes for antigen detection. Successful bioconjugation was characterized with the absorption and emission spectra showing blue shifts of around 40 and 30 nm, respectively. Gel electrophoresis and particle size distribution studies further confirmed the mass increment of QDs after their functionalization with anti-BSA. Surface plasmon resonance spectrometry has been used to study the affinity of QD-(anti-BSA) probes for bovine serum albumin (BSA). Photoluminescence quenching of the developed probe is observed in the presence of BSA.
authors.affiliation: Biomolecular Electronics & Nanotechnology Division, Central Scientific Instruments Organisation, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Sector 30, Chandigarh 160030, India.
authors.forename: Parveen
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Akash
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Deep
authors.forename: Sukesh Chander
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Lalit M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Bharadwaj
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D019187:Cadmium Compounds; D002417:Cattle; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D008027:Light; D000073718:Pancreatitis-Associated Proteins; D010316:Particle Size; D045663:Quantum Dots; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D018036:Selenium Compounds; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D020349:Surface Plasmon Resonance; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D019187:Cadmium Compounds; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D000073718:Pancreatitis-Associated Proteins; C000612141:REG3A protein, human; D018036:Selenium Compounds; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine; C058667:cadmium selenide