Combining ligand design with photoligation to provide compact, colloidally stable, and easy to conjugate quantum dots

Probing Protein Corona Formation around Gold Nanoparticles: Effects of Surface Coating

There has been much interest in integrating various inorganic nanoparticles (nanoscale colloids) in biology and medicine. However, buildup of a protein corona around the nanoparticles in biological media, driven by nonspecific interactions, remains a major hurdle for the translation of nanomedicine into clinical applications. In this study, we investigate the interactions between gold nanoparticles and serum proteins using a series of dihydrolipoic acid (DHLA)-based ligands. We employed gel electrophoresis combined with UV-vis absorption and dynamic light scattering to correlate protein adsorption with the nature and size of the ligand used. For instance, we found that AuNPs capped with DHLA alone promote nonspecific protein adsorption. In comparison, capping AuNPs with polyethylene glycol- or zwitterion-appended DHLA essentially prevents corona formation, regardless of ligand charge and size. Our results highlight the crucial role of surface chemistry and core material in protein corona formation and offer valuable information for the design of colloidal nanomaterials for biological applications.

Photon induced quantum yield regeneration of cap-exchanged CdSe/CdS quantum rods for ratiometric biosensing and cellular imaging

Full water-dispersion of commercial hydrophobic CdSe/CdS core/shell quantum rods (QRs) was achieved by cap-exchange using a dihydrolipoic acid zwitterion ligand at a low ligand:QR molar ratio (LQMR) of 1000. However, this process almost completely quenched the QR fluorescence, greatly limiting its potential in downstream fluorescence based applications. Fortunately, we found that the QR fluorescence could be recovered by exposure to near ultra-violet to blue light radiation (e.g. 300-450 nm). These "reborn" QRs were found to be compact, bright, and stable, and were resistant to non-specific adsorption, which make them powerful fluorescent probes in broad biomedical applications. We demonstrated their potential in two model applications: first, the QRs were conjugated with His₈-tagged small antibody mimetic proteins (also known as Affimers) for the sensitive detection of target proteins via a Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) readout strategy and second, the QR surface was functionalized with biotins for targeted imaging of cancer cells.

Small protein sequences can induce cellular uptake of complex nanohybrids

In this letter, we report on the ability of functional fusion proteins presenting a lytic gamma peptide, to promote interactions with HeLa cells and delivery of large hybrid nanostructures.

Surface Modifications of Nanoparticles for Stability in Biological Fluids

Due to the high surface: volume ratio and the extraordinary properties arising from the nanoscale (optical, electric, magnetic, etc.), nanoparticles (NPs) are excellent candidates for multiple applications. In this context, nanoscience is opening a wide range of modern technologies in biological and biomedical fields, among others. However, one of the main drawbacks that still delays its fast evolution and effectiveness is related to the behavior of nanomaterials in the presence of biological fluids. Unfortunately, biological fluids are characterized by high ionic strengths which usually induce NP aggregation. Besides this problem, the high content in biomacromolecules—such as lipids, sugars, nucleic acids and, especially, proteins—also affects NP stability and its viability for some applications due to, for example, the formation of the protein corona around the NPs. Here, we will review the most common strategies to achieve stable NPs dispersions in high ionic strength fluids and, also, antifouling strategies to avoid the protein adsorption.

Quantum dot-decorated semiconductor micro- and nanoparticles: A review of their synthesis, characterization and application in photocatalysis

Quantum dot (QD)-decorated semiconductor micro- and nanoparticles are a new class of functional nanomaterials that have attracted considerable interest for their unique structural, optical and electronic properties that result from the large surface-to-volume ratio and the quantum confinement effect. In addition, because of QDs' excellent light-harvesting capacity, unique photoinduced electron transfer, and up-conversion behaviour, semiconductor nanoparticles decorated with quantum dots have been used widely in photocatalytic applications for the degradation of organic pollutants in both the gas and aqueous phases. This review is a comprehensive overview of the recent progress in synthesis methods for quantum dots and quantum dot-decorated semiconductor composites with an emphasis on their composition, morphology and optical behaviour. Furthermore, various approaches used for the preparation of QD-based composites are discussed in detail with respect to visible and UV light-induced photoactivity. Finally, an outlook on future development is proposed with the goal of overcoming challenges and stimulating further research into this promising field.

Optimization and Changes in the Mode of Proteolytic Turnover of Quantum Dot-Peptide Substrate Conjugates through Moderation of Interfacial Adsorption

Enzymes have many important roles in biology and industry, and proteases are one of the most important classes of enzymes. Semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) are attractive materials for developing protease activity probes because of their advantageous physical and optical properties; however, interactions between a protease and a QD conjugated with its substrate can affect the turnover of that substrate. Here, we study the turnover of multivalent QD-peptide substrate conjugates as a function of multiple parameters: (i) the ligand coating on the QD, including dihydrolipoic acid (DHLA), glutathione (GSH), DHLA-poly(ethylene glycol) (DHLA-PEG), and DHLA-zwitterionic sulfobetaine (DHLA-SB); (ii) the identity of the protease, including trypsin, thrombin, and plasmin; and (iii) the number of substrate and nonsubstrate biomacromolecules conjugated per QD. We show that limiting protease adsorption on QDs is critical for optimizing the turnover of conjugated peptide substrates. Protease adsorption is inhibitory, and very strong adsorption leads to an apparent "scooting" mode of activity with limited turnover. In contrast, with weaker adsorption, enhancements in the turnover rate likely result from a "hopping" mode of activity. The putative hopping mode is thought to feature processive turnover of all substrates in multivalent conjugates with a rate-limiting step of diffusion between individual conjugates, and the magnitude of such enhancements increases with decreases in adsorption. Although it was possible to passivate DHLA- and GSH-coated QDs with high densities of conjugated biomacromolecules, the most effective strategy for reducing adsorption was the substitution of these ligands. Whereas passivation incrementally increased turnover, DHLA-PEG and DHLA-SB ligands converted the mode of turnover with plasmin from scooting to hopping and the DHLA-SB enhanced the turnover rates with thrombin and trypsin by approximately an order of magnitude relative to GSH ligands. The new insights from the broad scope of this study provide an important framework for designing optimized QD conjugates as probes and sensors for enzyme activity.

Ultraefficient Cap-Exchange Protocol To Compact Biofunctional Quantum Dots for Sensitive Ratiometric Biosensing and Cell Imaging

An ultraefficient cap-exchange protocol (UCEP) that can convert hydrophobic quantum dots (QDs) into stable, biocompatible, and aggregation-free water-dispersed ones at a ligand:QD molar ratio (LQMR) as low as 500, some 20-200-fold less than most literature methods, has been developed. The UCEP works conveniently with air-stable lipoic acid (LA)-based ligands by exploiting tris(2-carboxylethyl phosphine)-based rapid in situ reduction. The resulting QDs are compact (hydrodynamic radius, R_h, < 4.5 nm) and bright (retaining > 90% of original fluorescence), resist nonspecific adsorption of proteins, and display good stability in biological buffers even with high salt content (e.g., 2 M NaCl). These advantageous properties make them well suited for cellular imaging and ratiometric biosensing applications. The QDs prepared by UCEP using dihydrolipoic acid (DHLA)-zwitterion ligand can be readily conjugated with octa-histidine (His₈)-tagged antibody mimetic proteins (known as Affimers). These QDs allow rapid, ratiometric detection of the Affimer target protein down to 10 pM via a QD-sensitized Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) readout signal. Moreover, compact biotinylated QDs can be readily prepared by UCEP in a facile, one-step process. The resulting QDs have been further employed for ratiometric detection of protein, exemplified by neutravidin, down to 5 pM, as well as for fluorescence imaging of target cancer cells.

Peptide-functionalized ZCIS QDs as fluorescent nanoprobe for targeted HER2-positive breast cancer cells imaging

In this paper, the synthesis of alloyed CuInZnxS2+x quantum dots (ZCIS QDs), their transfer into aqueous solution via a polymer coating technique, and the use of these nanocrystals to selectively target HER2-positive cells, are reported. By optimizing first the ZnS shell deposition process onto the CuInS2 core, and next the encapsulation of the dots with the amphiphilic poly(maleic anhydride-alt-1-octadecene) (PMAO) polymer, water-dispersible ZCIS QDs were successfully prepared. The nanocrystals with a photoluminescence quantum yield of 35% were purified via centrifugation and ultracentrifugation and high quality nanoparticles with narrow size distributions and surface charges were obtained. After verifying the biocompatibility of PMO-coated ZCIS QDs, we coupled these nanocrystals with the LTVSPWY peptide and demonstrated via MTT assay that both bare and the peptide-linked QDs exhibit low cytotoxicity. The HER2-mediated delivery of the peptide-linked QDs was confirmed by confocal microscopy. This study indicates that as engineered QDs can efficiently be used as fluorescent nanoprobes for selective labelling of HER2-positive SKBR3 cancer cells.

Multichannel Detection and Differentiation of Explosives with a Quantum Dot Array

The sensing and differentiation of explosive molecules is key for both security and environmental monitoring. Single fluorophores are a widely used tool for explosives detection, but a fluorescent array is a more powerful tool for detecting and differentiating such molecules. By combining array elements into a single multichannel platform, faster results can be obtained from smaller amounts of sample. Here, five explosives are detected and differentiated using quantum dots as luminescent probes in a multichannel platform: 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT), 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), tetryl (2,4,6-trinitrophenylmethylnitramine), cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX), and pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN). The sharp, variable emissions of the quantum dots, from a single excitation wavelength, make them ideal for such a system. Each color quantum dot is functionalized with a different surface receptor via a facile ligation process. These receptors undergo nonspecific interactions with the explosives, inducing variable fluorescence quenching of the quantum dots. Pattern analysis of the fluorescence quenching data allows for explosive detection and identification with limits-of-detection in the ppb range.

(99m)Tc radiolabelling of Fe3O4-Au core-shell and Au-Fe3O4 dumbbell-like nanoparticles

The development of nanoparticle-based dual-modality probes for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) or single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is increasingly growing in importance. One of the most commonly used radionuclides for clinical SPECT imaging is (99m)Tc and the labelling of Fe3O4 nanoparticles with (99m)Tc was shown to be a successful strategy to obtain dual-modality imaging agents. In this work, we focus on gold containing magnetic nanomaterials. The radiolabelling of magnetic Fe3O4-Au core-shell and Fe3O4-Au dumbbell-like nanoparticles with the [(99m)Tc(CO)3](+) fragment is described. The key elements for this (99m)Tc labelling approach are novel coating ligands, consisting of an anchor for the Au surface, a polyethylene glycol linker and a strong chelator for the [(99m)Tc(CO)3](+) moiety.

Bionanotechnology. Colloidal nanoparticles as advanced biological sensors

Colloidal nanoparticle biosensors have received intense scientific attention and offer promising applications in both research and medicine. We review the state of the art in nanoparticle development, surface chemistry, and biosensing mechanisms, discussing how a range of technologies are contributing toward commercial and clinical translation. Recent examples of success include the ultrasensitive detection of cancer biomarkers in human serum and in vivo sensing of methyl mercury. We identify five key materials challenges, including the development of robust mass-scale nanoparticle synthesis methods, and five broader challenges, including the use of simulations and bioinformatics-driven experimental approaches for predictive modeling of biosensor performance. The resultant generation of nanoparticle biosensors will form the basis of high-performance analytical assays, effective multiplexed intracellular sensors, and sophisticated in vivo probes.

Real-time visualizing and tracing of HSV-TK/GCV suicide gene therapy by near-infrared fluorescent quantum dots

Exploring intracellular behavior of suicide gene is significant for improving the efficacy and safety of herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene/ganciclovir (HSV-TK/GCV) system in cancer therapy. Molecular imaging represents a powerful tool to understand gene transportation and function dynamics. In this work, we reported a quantum-dot-based technique for revealing the procedure of HSV-TK/GCV suicide gene therapy by constructing covalent linkage between near-infrared fluorescent quantum dots (QDs) and TK gene. This stable QD labeling did not influence either the QDs fluorescence or the biological activity of TK gene. Furthermore, we visualized and dynamically traced the intracellular behavior antitumor effect of TK gene in vitro and in vivo. It is demonstrated that TK gene was shuttled to the nucleus after a-24 h treatment; at that time the single dose of GCV administration exerts the gradually increasing lethal effect until to 72 h. Real-time tracing the formation of hepatocellular carcinoma treated with HSV-TK/GCV suicide gene system in vivo by QD-based NIR fluorescence imaging provides useful insight toward QD-based theranostics in future cancer therapy.

Inorganic Nanoparticles for Therapeutic Delivery: Trials, Tribulations and Promise

Inorganic nanomaterials have a wide array of physical and structural properties that make them attractive candidates for imaging and therapeutic delivery. Nanoparticle platforms have been intensely studied for these applications, and examples are starting to enter the clinic. This review looks at why inorganic particles provide promising platforms for biomedicine, and what issues need to be addressed for them to reach their potential.

25th anniversary article: interfacing nanoparticles and biology: new strategies for biomedicine

The exterior surface of nanoparticles (NPs) dictates the behavior of these systems with the outside world. Understanding the interactions of the NP surface functionality with biosystems enables the design and fabrication of effective platforms for therapeutics, diagnostics, and imaging agents. In this review, we highlight the role of chemistry in the engineering of nanomaterials, focusing on the fundamental role played by surface chemistry in controlling the interaction of NPs with proteins and cells.

Photoligation combined with zwitterion-modified lipoic acid ligands provides compact and biocompatible quantum dots

We describe the design and synthesis of a series of compact ligands made of lipoic acid (LA)-based coordinating anchors and hydrophilic zwitterion groups. This ligand design is combined with a novel photoligation strategy to promote the transfer of QDs to polar and buffer media. This approach has provided hydrophilic QDs that exhibit great colloidal stability over a broad range of pHs and in the presence of cell culture media. Our photoligation strategy drastically improves previous phase transfer methods by eliminating the need for chemical reduction of the dithiolane ring using NaBH4 prior to the cap exchange, and it is adapted to several LA-based ligands. We also found that QDs stabilized with these compact zwitterionic ligands are fully compatible with metal-histidine-driven self-assembly where the protein activity is maintained after forming conjugation with the QDs.

Understanding the self-assembly of proteins onto gold nanoparticles and quantum dots driven by metal-histidine coordination

Coupling of polyhistidine-appended biomolecules to inorganic nanocrystals driven by metal-affinity interactions is a greatly promising strategy to form hybrid bioconjugates. It is simple to implement and can take advantage of the fact that polyhistidine-appended proteins and peptides are routinely prepared using well established molecular engineering techniques. A few groups have shown its effectiveness for coupling proteins onto Zn- or Cd-rich semiconductor quantum dots (QDs). Expanding this conjugation scheme to other metal-rich nanoparticles (NPs) such as AuNPs would be of great interest to researchers actively seeking effective means for interfacing nanostructured materials with biology. In this report, we investigated the metal-affinity driven self-assembly between AuNPs and two engineered proteins, a His7-appended maltose binding protein (MBP-His) and a fluorescent His6-terminated mCherry protein. In particular, we investigated the influence of the capping ligand affinity to the nanoparticle surface, its density, and its lateral extension on the AuNP-protein self-assembly. Affinity gel chromatography was used to test the AuNP-MPB-His7 self-assembly, while NP-to-mCherry-His6 binding was evaluated using fluorescence measurements. We also assessed the kinetics of the self-assembly between AuNPs and proteins in solution, using time-dependent changes in the energy transfer quenching of mCherry fluorescent proteins as they immobilize onto the AuNP surface. This allowed determination of the dissociation rate constant, Kd(-1) ∼ 1-5 nM. Furthermore, a close comparison of the protein self-assembly onto AuNPs or QDs provided additional insights into which parameters control the interactions between imidazoles and metal ions in these systems.

Multidentate zwitterionic ligands provide compact and highly biocompatible quantum dots

Hydrophilic functional semiconductor nanocrystals that are also compact provide greatly promising platforms for use in bioinspired applications and are thus highly needed. To address this, we designed a set of metal coordinating ligands where we combined two lipoic acid groups, bis(LA)-ZW, (as a multicoordinating anchor) with a zwitterion group for water compatibility. We further combined this ligand design with a new photoligation strategy, which relies on optical means instead of chemical reduction of the lipoic acid, to promote the transfer of CdSe-ZnS QDs to buffer media. In particular, we found that the QDs photoligated with this zwitterion-terminated bis(lipoic) acid exhibit great colloidal stability over a wide range of pHs, to an excess of electrolytes, and in the presence of growth media and reducing agents, in addition to preserving their optical and spectroscopic properties. These QDs are also stable at nanomolar concentrations and under ambient conditions (room temperature and white light exposure), a very promising property for fluorescent labeling in biology. In addition, the compact ligands permitted metal-histidine self-assembly between QDs photoligated with bis(LA)-ZW and two different His-tagged proteins, maltose binding protein and fluorescent mCherry protein. The remarkable stability of QDs capped with these multicoordinating and compact ligands over a broad range of conditions and at very small concentrations, combined with the compatibility with metal-histidine conjugation, could be very useful for a variety of applications, ranging from protein tracking and ligand-receptor binding to intracellular sensing using energy transfer interactions.