scholarly journals DNA-Based Assembly of Quantum Dots into Dimers and Helices

Nanomaterials ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 339 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tao Zhang ◽  
Tim Liedl

Owing to their unique optical properties, colloidal quantum dots (QDs) have attracted much attention as versatile fluorescent markers with broad biological and physical applications. On the other hand, DNA-based assembly has proven to be a powerful bottom-up approach to create designer nanoscale objects and to use these objects for the site-directed arrangement of guest components. To achieve good colloidal stability and accurate positioning of QDs on DNA templates, robust QD surface functionalization is crucial. Here, we present a simple and reliable conjugation method for the direct attachment of DNA molecules to QDs. Phosphorothiolated regions of chimera oligonucleotides are attached and incorporated into a ZnS layer freshly growing in situ on QDs that were rendered water soluble with hydrophilic ligands in a prior step. The reaction can be completed in a 2 mL plastic tube without any special equipment. The utility of these DNA-labeled QDs is demonstrated via prototypical assemblies such as QDs dimers with various spacings and chiral helical architectures.

NANO ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (07) ◽  
pp. 1650073 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lu Liu ◽  
Hu Xu ◽  
Bing Shen ◽  
Xinhua Zhong

Pentaerythritol tetrakis 3-mercaptopropionate (PTMP) grafted poly(acryl acid) (PAA) ionic hydrophilic oligomer PAA-PTMP (PP) and dihydrolipoic acid (DHLA) grafted methoxypoly(ethylene glycol) (mPEG) nonionic hydrophilic oligomer mPEG-DHLA (PD) have been designed, synthesized and used as co-capping ligands in water-solubilization of hydrophobic quantum dots (QDs) via ligand exchange. The obtained oligomers with multi-thiol groups could bind strongly to the surface atoms of QDs. Meanwhile, the carboxyl groups (from PP) and mPEG segment (from PD) can render QDs water-soluble, and the free carboxylic groups can possibly be used for the further bioconjugation. The resulting water-soluble QDs have been characterized by ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis), fluorescence, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy as well as transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) techniques. The water-soluble QDs have relatively small hydrodynamic size (10[Formula: see text]12 nm), and importantly, retain high fluorescence quantum yields (up to 45%) compared with that of the originally hydrophobic QDs (49%). In addition, they have tunable surface charges and show excellent colloidal stability over a relatively broad pH range ([Formula: see text]), in high salt concentration, and even after thermal treatment at 100[Formula: see text]C. These results indicate that the water-soluble QDs coated by PP and PD oligomers have potential applications in cellular imaging and biosensor.


Nanomaterials ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 948 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rudy Martin-Trasanco ◽  
Hilda Esparza-Ponce ◽  
Pedro Ortiz ◽  
Diego Oyarzun ◽  
Cesar Zuñiga ◽  
...  

β-Cyclodextrin (βCD), the less water soluble of the cyclodextrins, has been used as a capping agent in the preparation of semiconductor nanocrystals or quantum dots (QDs). Nevertheless, no reports have been found in the use of the highly water-soluble polymer of this, prepared by the crosslinking of the βCD units with epichlorohydrin in basic medium (βCDP). This polymer, besides to overcome the low solubility of the βCD, increases the inclusion constant of the guest; two parameters that deserve its use as capping agent, instead of the native cyclodextrin. In the present manuscript, we afforded the in-situ aqueous preparation of cadmium telluride (CdTe) QDs capped with βCDP. The polymer influence on the photoluminescent properties of the nanocrystals was analyzed. The βCDP controls the nanocrystals growth during the Oswald ripening stage. Consequently, the CdTe capped βCDP QDs showed lower Stokes-shift values, higher photoluminescent efficiency, and narrower size distribution than for nanocrystals obtained in the absence of polymer. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) micrographs and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analysis revealed the composition and crystallinity of the CdTe QDs. This βCDP capped CdTe QDs is a potential scaffold for the supramolecular modification of QDs surface.


Author(s):  
Ain Uddin ◽  
Weifan Sang ◽  
Yong Gao ◽  
Kyle Plunkett

The synthesis of poly(p-xylylene)s (PPXs) with sidechains containing alkyl bromide functionality, and their post-polymer modification, is described. The PPXs were prepared by a diimide hydrogenation of poly(p-phenylene vinylene)s (PPVs) that were originally synthesized by a Gilch polymerization. The polymer backbone reduction was carried out with hydrazine hydrate in toluene at 80 °C to provide polymers with the sidechain-containing bromide functionality intact. To demonstrate post-polymer modification of the sidechains, the resulting PPX polymers were modified with trimethylamine to form tetraalkylammonium ion functionality and were evaluated as anion conducting membranes. While PPX homopolymers containing tetralkylammonium ions were completely water soluble and not able to form valuable films, PPX copolymers containing mixed tetraalkylammonium ions and hydrophobic chains were capable of film formation and alkaline stability. In addition, an in situ crosslinking process that used N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-1,6-hexanediamine during the tetraalkylammonium formation of brominated PPX polymers was also evaluated and gave reasonable films with conductivities of ~10 mS-cm-1.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ain Uddin ◽  
Weifan Sang ◽  
Yong Gao ◽  
Kyle Plunkett

The synthesis of poly(p-xylylene)s (PPXs) with sidechains containing alkyl bromide functionality, and their post-polymer modification, is described. The PPXs were prepared by a diimide hydrogenation of poly(p-phenylene vinylene)s (PPVs) that were originally synthesized by a Gilch polymerization. The polymer backbone reduction was carried out with hydrazine hydrate in toluene at 80 °C to provide polymers with the sidechain-containing bromide functionality intact. To demonstrate post-polymer modification of the sidechains, the resulting PPX polymers were modified with trimethylamine to form tetraalkylammonium ion functionality and were evaluated as anion conducting membranes. While PPX homopolymers containing tetralkylammonium ions were completely water soluble and not able to form valuable films, PPX copolymers containing mixed tetraalkylammonium ions and hydrophobic chains were capable of film formation and alkaline stability. In addition, an in situ crosslinking process that used N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-1,6-hexanediamine during the tetraalkylammonium formation of brominated PPX polymers was also evaluated and gave reasonable films with conductivities of ~10 mS-cm-1.


2013 ◽  
Vol 40 (6) ◽  
pp. 857-861
Author(s):  
Bin ZHAO ◽  
Su-Qing ZHAO ◽  
Li-Hua ZHOU ◽  
Kun ZHANG ◽  
Jun ZHANG
Keyword(s):  

2012 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 202-207 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonia Bailon-Ruiz ◽  
Luis Alamo-Nole ◽  
Oscar Perales-Perez

2008 ◽  
Vol 92 (13) ◽  
pp. 131114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun He ◽  
Gregory D. Scholes ◽  
Yu Long Ang ◽  
Wei Ji ◽  
Cyrus W. J. Beh ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. eabe3097
Author(s):  
Hongwei Sheng ◽  
Jingjing Zhou ◽  
Bo Li ◽  
Yuhang He ◽  
Xuetao Zhang ◽  
...  

It has been an outstanding challenge to achieve implantable energy modules that are mechanically soft (compatible with soft organs and tissues), have compact form factors, and are biodegradable (present for a desired time frame to power biodegradable, implantable medical electronics). Here, we present a fully biodegradable and bioabsorbable high-performance supercapacitor implant, which is lightweight and has a thin structure, mechanical flexibility, tunable degradation duration, and biocompatibility. The supercapacitor with a high areal capacitance (112.5 mF cm−2 at 1 mA cm−2) and energy density (15.64 μWh cm−2) uses two-dimensional, amorphous molybdenum oxide (MoOx) flakes as electrodes, which are grown in situ on water-soluble Mo foil using a green electrochemical strategy. Biodegradation behaviors and biocompatibility of the associated materials and the supercapacitor implant are systematically studied. Demonstrations of a supercapacitor implant that powers several electronic devices and that is completely degraded after implantation and absorbed in rat body shed light on its potential uses.


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