Bio-catalytic nanoparticle shaping for preparing mesoscopic assemblies of semiconductor quantum dots and organic molecules

Abstract

We report a unique bio-catalytic nanoparticle shaping (BNS) method for preparing a variety of mesoscopic particles by a facile process. For example, the BNS method affords mesoscopic QD assembly dispersions. Large-size sedimentations (>1 μm) of QDs are first formed using oligo-L-lysine linkers. These then undergo controlled enzymatic cleavage of the linkers using trypsin, which surprisingly leads to mesoscopic particles about 84 nm in size with a narrow size distribution. A detailed mechanism of the BNS method is investigated using tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)porphyrin (TCPP), instead of QDs, as a probe molecule. Interestingly, the BNS method can also be applied to other combinations of enzymes and enzymatically degradable linkers, such as hyaluronidase with hyaluronan. As a potential application, the mesoscopic particles of QDs and oligo-lysine exhibit their ability to act as a drug delivery carrier originating from the features of both QDs and oligo-lysine. The BNS method demonstrates the universality and versatility of preparing mesoscopic particles and opens new doors for studying QD assemblies and molecular-based mesoscopic particles.

Graphical abstract: Bio-catalytic nanoparticle shaping for preparing mesoscopic assemblies of semiconductor quantum dots and organic molecules

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Communication
Submitted
28 Mar 2024
Accepted
13 May 2024
First published
23 May 2024

Nanoscale Horiz., 2024, Advance Article

Bio-catalytic nanoparticle shaping for preparing mesoscopic assemblies of semiconductor quantum dots and organic molecules

R. Akter, N. Kirkwood, S. Zaman, B. Lu, T. Wang, S. Takakusagi, P. Mulvaney, V. Biju and Y. Takano, Nanoscale Horiz., 2024, Advance Article , DOI: 10.1039/D4NH00134F

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