Hydrophilic colloidal quantum dots with long peptide chain coats.
Here, the transition of colloidal CdSe quantum dots (QDs) from hydrophobic to hydrophilic environments after coating the surface with long peptide chains of membrane scaffold proteins (MSP) is reported. The intermediate step included the solubilization of QDs with detergents, where n-octyl glucoside was the most promising ligand. Furthermore, size analysis by fluorescence correlation spectroscopy, gel filtration and atomic force microscopy suggested that the obtained QD-MSP conjugates were primarily discoidal and were likely formed from single QDs tightly encircled by helix belts. In addition, Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy analysis confirmed the preservation of the secondary structure of most proteins during conjugate formation, with no signs of denaturation. The obtained QD-MSP conjugates were optimal in terms of stability in water environments, suggesting that it is possible to obtain QDs with single peptide coats and providing the first guidelines for future research in this direction.
Laboratory of Biological Physics, Institute of Physics PAS, al. Lotników 32/46, 02-668 Warsaw, Poland.
Anna
A
Dąbrowska
Advanced Materials Engineering and Modelling Group, Faculty of Chemistry, Wroclaw University of Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspianskiego 27, 50-370 Wroclaw, Poland.
Marcin
M
Nyk
Laboratory of Biological Physics, Institute of Physics PAS, al. Lotników 32/46, 02-668 Warsaw, Poland.
Remigiusz
R
Worch
Laboratory of Biological Physics, Institute of Physics PAS, al. Lotników 32/46, 02-668 Warsaw, Poland. Electronic address: jgrzyb@ifpan.edu.pl.
Joanna
J
Grzyb
D019187:Cadmium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D003102:Colloids / Q000737:chemistry*; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D008024:Ligands; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry*; D045663:Quantum Dots / Q000737:chemistry*; D018036:Selenium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D013499:Surface Properties
D019187:Cadmium Compounds; D003102:Colloids; D008024:Ligands; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; D010455:Peptides; D018036:Selenium Compounds; C044965:trioctyl phosphine oxide; C058667:cadmium selenide
Detergents; Membrane scaffold proteins; Quantum dots; Solubilization