We detail the design and optimization of a set of multicoordinating ligands that combine the benefits of mixed coordination (thiol and imidazole) with molecular-scale zwitterion motifs, yielding sterically stabilized and compact nanocrystals. Conjugating the resulting QDs to anti-tropomyosin receptor kinase B antibody (α-TrkB), or to the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), has allowed successful labeling of the tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB) in pyramidal neurons within cortical tissue. It has also allowed visual monitoring of BDNF-induced activation of TrkB signaling in live neuronal cells.
Coating inorganic nanocrystals (e.g., quantum dots and gold nanoparticles) with polymer ligands presenting many lipoic acid (LA) anchoring groups provides them with excellent colloidal stability in aqueous media. Here we exploit the natural swelling of polymer macromolecules, which imposes a configuration that leaves a fraction of the anchors on the polymerstabilized nanocolloids free or uncoordinated and target them for conjugation using thiol-to-maleimide chemistry. This allows easy surface functionalization of the nanocrystals, without the need to introduce additional reactive groups. We apply a photoligation strategy to coat QDs and AuNPs, followed by coupling with maleimide-modified dyes. We then use optical absorption and resonance energy transfer measurements, to extract estimates for the fraction of accessible LAs per nanocrystal. To further prove the effectiveness of this approach, we construct a ratiometric pH sensing probe made of QDSNARF conjugates. The combination of the multi-coordinating ligand design and in-situ photoligation yields colloidally stable nanocrystals, presenting several thiol reactive sites. Our results are promising and could advance the integration of nanomaterials in biological sensing and imaging applications.
The unique photophysical properties of gold nanomaterials combined with progress in developing effective surfacefunctionalization strategies has motivated researchers to employ them as tools for use in biomedical imaging, biosensing, diagnostics, photothermal therapy, and as drug and gene delivery vehicles. However, a major challenge limiting these advancements has been the unavailability of effective strategies to deliver these and other nanocrystals into the cytoplasm of live cells. In this study, we demonstrate that the use of a chemically-synthesized anti-microbial peptide, SVS-1, can promote non-endocytic uptake of both small size gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and larger size gold nanorods (AuNRs) into mammalian cells. For this, colloidally stable AuNP and AuNRs, surface ligated with an amine-functionalized polymer, His-PIMA-PEG-OCH3/NH2 were prepared. The amine groups allow dual, covalent attachment of cysteine terminated SVS-1 (via a thioether linkage) and NHS-ester-Texas-Red dye onto the nanocrystal surfaces. We use fluorescence microscopy to demonstrate nanocrystal staining throughout the cytoplasmic volume of the cells incubated with these conjugates. More importantly, we have conducted additional endocytosis inhibition experiments where cells were incubated with the conjugates at 4°C. Here too, the imaging data have shown significant levels of nanocrystal uptake, further verifying that physical translocation of these conjugates takes place through the cell membrane independent of endocytosis. These findings are promising and can provide critical support for the widespread applications of nanomaterials in the field of biology.
We introduce a new set of amphiphilic polymers as multifunctional, metal-coordinating ligands adapted to surfacefunctionalize quantum dots (QDs), iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) and gold nanoparticles/nanorods (AuNPs/AuNRs). The ligand design relies on the introduction of several anchoring groups, hydrophilic moieties and reactive functionalities into a polymer chain, via one-step nucleophilic addition reaction. Such synthetic scheme also allows the insertion of target biomolecules during the ligand synthesis. This functionalization strategy yields nanocrystals that exhibit long-term colloidal stability over a broad range of biological conditions, such as pH changes and when mixed with growth media. When zwitterion groups are used as hydrophilic motifs, this provides compact nanocrystals that are compatible with conjugation to proteins via metal-polyhistidine self-assembly. In addition, we show that QDs ligated with these polymers can engage in energy or charge transfer interactions. Furthermore, nanocrystals coated with folic acid-modified polymers could promote the delivery of nanoparticle-conjugates into cancer cells via folate receptormediated endocytosis.
Interactions between luminescent fluorophores and redox active molecules often involve complex charge transfer processes, and have great ramifications in biology. Dopamine is a redox active neurotransmitter involved in a range of brain activities. We used steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence along with transient absorption bleach measurements, to probe the effects of changing the QD size and valence on the rate of photoluminescence quenching in QD-dopamine conjugates, when the pH of the medium was varied. In particular, we measured substantially larger quenching efficiencies, combined with more pronounced shortening in the PL lifetime decay when smaller size QDs and/or alkaline pH were used. Moreover, we found that changes in the nanocrystal size alter both the electron and hole relaxation of photoexcited QDs but with very different extents. For instance, a more pronounced change in the hole relaxation was recorded in alkaline buffers and for green-emitting QDs compared to their red-emitting counterparts. We attributed these results to the more favorable electron transfer pathway from the reduced form of the complex to the valence band of the QD. This process benefits from the combination of lower oxidation potential and larger energy mismatch in alkaline buffers and for green-emitting QDs. In comparison, the effects on the rate of electron transfer from excited QDs to dopamine are less affected by QD size. These findings provide new insights into the mechanisms that drive charge transfer interactions and the ensuing quenching of QD emission in such assemblies.
We prepared a set of multi-coordinating and reactive amphiphilic polymer ligands and used them for surface-functionalizing magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles. The amphiphilic oligomers were prepared by coupling (via one step nucleophilic addition) several dopamine anchoring groups, polyethylene glycol moieties and reactive groups onto a poly(isobutylene-alt-maleic anhydride) chain. The availability of several anchoring groups in the same ligand greatly enhances the ligand affinity to the nanoparticle surfaces, via multiplecoordination, while the hydrophilic and reactive groups promote colloidal stability in buffer media and allow subsequent conjugation to target biomolecules. The hydrophilic nanoparticles capped with these polymers maintain compact size and exhibit great long term colloidal stability.
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