Infrared emitting quantum dots: DNA conjugation and DNA origami directed self-assembly

Abstract

QDs that emit in the infrared (IR) range are of special interest at the moment because of their potential as tissue imaging reagents. Due to autofluorescence from tissues, QDs that emit in the visible range fail to produce good signal to noise ratios. Here we report the production of Cd_xPb_1−xTe tertiary-alloyed QDs that emit in the 1100–1300 nm wavelength range, capped with the hydrophilic ligands mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) or glutathione (GSH), together with DNA, as specific surface tags. We observed an interesting dependence of the QD emission peaks on the species of capping ligand used. ICP-MS analysis confirmed that changing the identity of the surface ligand in the reaction mixture shifted the elemental composition of the particles and resulted in different Cd/Pb ratios. Further, DNA directed assembly of the particles onto DNA nanostructures ensures that the particle remains stable in high salt conditions, which is crucial to biological applications.