title: Size reduction of CdSe/ZnS quantum dots by a peptidic amyloid supergelator.
abstract: Anchoring of a self-assembling dipeptide on the surface of core/shell CdSe/ZnS quantum dots resulted in a competition between coordination of the surface atoms of the QDs and the strong tendency for the dipeptide to self-assemble in toluene. This resulted in a mild QD etching and in a corresponding increase in the band gap of the nanocrystals whose photoluminescent emission gradually turns blue with time. The FmocLeuLeuOH dipeptide supergelator self-assembles in fibrils in which the Fmoc groups are surrounded by the pendant isobutyl side chains of the leucine residues with vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) and liquid- and solid-state NMR attributes of twist anti-parallel β-sheets.
authors.affiliation: Steacie Institute for Molecular Sciences, National Research Council of Canada, 100 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0R6 Canada.
authors.forename: Md Badruz
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Zaman
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bardelang
authors.forename: Michaël
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Prakesch
authors.forename: Donald M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Leek
authors.forename: Jean-Valère
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Naubron
authors.forename: Gordon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Xiaohua
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Ripmeester
authors.forename: Christopher I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Ratcliffe
authors.forename: Kui
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D000682:Amyloid / Q000737:chemistry*; D019187:Cadmium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D002942:Circular Dichroism; D005782:Gels / Q000737:chemistry*; D008024:Ligands; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D010316:Particle Size; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry*; D045663:Quantum Dots; D018036:Selenium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D013055:Spectrophotometry, Infrared; D013057:Spectrum Analysis; D013440:Sulfides / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D014050:Toluene / Q000737:chemistry; D017967:Zinc Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000682:Amyloid; D019187:Cadmium Compounds; D005782:Gels; D008024:Ligands; D010455:Peptides; D018036:Selenium Compounds; D013440:Sulfides; D017967:Zinc Compounds; D014050:Toluene; C058667:cadmium selenide; C031238:zinc sulfide