Circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy has emerged as a potent tool for probing chiral small-molecule ligand exchange on natively achiral quantum dots (QDs). In this study, we report a novel approach to identifying QD–biomolecule interactions by inducing chirality in CdS QDs using thermoresponsive elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs) engineered with C-terminal cysteine residues. Our method is based on a versatile two-step ligand exchange process starting from monodisperse oleate-capped QDs in nonpolar media and proceeding through an easily accessed achiral glycine-capped QD intermediate. Successful conjugation of the ELPs onto the QDs is confirmed by the diagnostic CD response corresponding to the QD electronic transitions in the visible range. The resulting ELP:CdS conjugates demonstrate thermally reversible coacervation, as observed through dynamic light scattering, small-angle X-ray scattering, and electron microscopy. Furthermore, this research provides a foundation for using induced chirality in QD electronic transitions to probe QD conjugation to complex peptides and proteins, opening pathways for designing dynamic, stimuli-responsive hybrid nanomaterials.
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Lowe, Christopher D., et al. "Induced Chirality in QDs Using Thermoresponsive Elastin-like Polypeptides." Langmuir, vol. 41, no. 1, Dec. 2024. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.4c04339
Lowe, Christopher D., Larson, Helen C., Cai, Yifeng, Chiang, Huat Thart, Pozzo, Lilo D., Baneyx, François, & Cossairt, Brandi M. (2024). Induced Chirality in QDs Using Thermoresponsive Elastin-like Polypeptides. Langmuir, 41(1). https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.4c04339
Lowe, Christopher D., Larson, Helen C., Cai, Yifeng, et al., "Induced Chirality in QDs Using Thermoresponsive Elastin-like Polypeptides," Langmuir 41, no. 1 (2024), https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.4c04339
@article{osti_2499568,
author = {Lowe, Christopher D. and Larson, Helen C. and Cai, Yifeng and Chiang, Huat Thart and Pozzo, Lilo D. and Baneyx, François and Cossairt, Brandi M.},
title = {Induced Chirality in QDs Using Thermoresponsive Elastin-like Polypeptides},
annote = {Circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy has emerged as a potent tool for probing chiral small-molecule ligand exchange on natively achiral quantum dots (QDs). In this study, we report a novel approach to identifying QD–biomolecule interactions by inducing chirality in CdS QDs using thermoresponsive elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs) engineered with C-terminal cysteine residues. Our method is based on a versatile two-step ligand exchange process starting from monodisperse oleate-capped QDs in nonpolar media and proceeding through an easily accessed achiral glycine-capped QD intermediate. Successful conjugation of the ELPs onto the QDs is confirmed by the diagnostic CD response corresponding to the QD electronic transitions in the visible range. The resulting ELP:CdS conjugates demonstrate thermally reversible coacervation, as observed through dynamic light scattering, small-angle X-ray scattering, and electron microscopy. Furthermore, this research provides a foundation for using induced chirality in QD electronic transitions to probe QD conjugation to complex peptides and proteins, opening pathways for designing dynamic, stimuli-responsive hybrid nanomaterials.},
doi = {10.1021/acs.langmuir.4c04339},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/2499568},
journal = {Langmuir},
issn = {ISSN 0743-7463},
number = {1},
volume = {41},
place = {United States},
publisher = {American Chemical Society},
year = {2024},
month = {12}}