Abstract: A FRET based reporter system utilizing the fluorescent semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) and restriction enzymes expressed in cell-free system has the potential to detect multiple analytes in single reaction.

Abstract: A new seedless synthesis of anisotropic nanoscale gold nanoflower (AuNF) particles uses bidentate thiolate ligands to protect the nanoparticle surface and a combination of reagents (for example, ligand, ascorbic acid, and hydroxide) to synthesis AuNF with controlled size and anisotropic properties. Compared to prior art gold nanospheres, AuNF produced approximately a 15-fold improvement in a drug delivery assay.

Abstract: New phosphoramidite Cy5 derivatives can be used in automated DNA synthesis, allowing the labeling of DNA sequences with a wider array of chromophores than are presently commercially available. In addition to varying dye hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity, the 5,5?-substituents (including hexyloxy, triethyleneglycol monomethyl ether, tert-butyl, and chloro groups) can modulate electron donating/withdrawing character while also tuning resulting absorption and emission properties. Modification of the Cy5 periphery enables the tuning of photophysical properties, such as absorption and emission maxima, fluorescence quantum yield, and fluorescence lifetime.

Abstract: Lipase activity can be detected with a biosensor that includes a quantum dot adhered to a construct having a lipase-cleavable ester to attach a fluorophore acceptor configured as a Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) acceptor to the QD when the construct is bound thereto. Cleavage of the ester by a lipase results in a measurable reduction in FRET. In further embodiments, the cleavable ester can be used to detect esterase activity, or the ester could be replaced with a glycosidic linkage to detect glycoside activity.

Abstract: A nanoparticle (for example, quantum dot) serves as a substrate for immobilizing enzymes involved in consecutive reactions as a cascade. This results in a significant increase in the rate of catalysis as well as final product yield compared to non-immobilized enzymes.

Abstract: This disclosure concerns a method of making a ligand for Quantum Dot functionalization, a method of making a functionalized Quantum Dot (QD) with a ligand, and a method of making a transparent luminescent quantum dot thiol-yne nanocomposite with tailorable optical, thermal, and mechanical properties. The prepolymer solution and functionalized Quantum Dot can be used in additive manufacturing.

Abstract: A construct for detecting cellular membrane potential includes a nanoparticle operable as an electron donor; a modular peptide attached to the nanoparticle, the peptide comprising a nanoparticle association domain, a motif configured to mediate peptide insertion into the plasma membrane, and at least one attachment point for an electron acceptor positioned at a controlled distance from the nanoparticle; and an electron acceptor. The nanoparticle can be a quantum dot and the electron acceptor can be C60 fullerene. Emission correlates with cellular membrane potential.

Abstract: Quantum dots conjugated to SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein receptor binding domain (RBD) interact with gold nanoparticles bound to angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and thus undergo energy transfer. This energy transfer indicates RBD/ACE binding and can be used to assay for inhibitors thereof. Moreover, these labeled quantum dots were found to undergo endocytosis in cells expressing ACE2.

Abstract: This disclosure concerns a method of making a ligand for Quantum Dot functionalization, a method of making a functionalized Quantum Dot (QD) with a ligand, and a method of making a transparent luminescent quantum dot thiol-yne nanocomposite with tailorable optical, thermal, and mechanical properties. The prepolymer solution and functionalized Quantum Dot can be used in additive manufacturing.

Abstract: This disclosure concerns a method of making a ligand for Quantum Dot functionalization, a method of making a functionalized Quantum Dot (QD) with a ligand, and a method of making a transparent luminescent quantum dot thiol-yne nanocomposite with tailorable optical, thermal, and mechanical properties. The prepolymer solution and functionalized Quantum Dot can be used in additive manufacturing.

Abstract: Lipase activity can be detected with a biosensor that includes a quantum dot adhered to a construct having a lipase-cleavable ester to attach a fluorophore acceptor configured as a Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) acceptor to the QD when the construct is bound thereto. Cleavage of the ester by a lipase results in a measurable reduction in FRET. In further embodiments, the cleavable ester can be used to detect esterase activity, or the ester could be replaced with a glycosidic linkage to detect glycoside activity.

Abstract: Provided are compositions and methods for promoting tolerance to auto-immune antigens. In general the compositions include quantum dots (QDs) that are in association with auto-immune peptide antigens. It is shown that QDs can be used to generate immunological tolerance by controlling the density of self-antigen on QDs. Peptide-QDs rapidly concentrate in draining lymph nodes, and co-localize with macrophages expressing scavenger receptors involved intolerance. Treatment with peptide-QDs reduces disease incidence 10-fold. The degree of tolerance and the underlying expansion of regulatory T cells correlates with the density of myelin molecules presented on QDs such that higher numbers of tolerogenic particles displaying lower levels of self-peptide are more effective for inducing tolerance than fewer particles each displaying higher densities of peptide. The disclosure is therefore relevant to promoting tolerance to antigens that are involved in a variety of autoimmune disorders.

Abstract: A construct for detecting cellular membrane potential includes a nanoparticle operable as an electron donor; a modular peptide attached to the nanoparticle, the peptide comprising a nanoparticle association domain, a motif configured to mediate peptide insertion into the plasma membrane, and at least one attachment point for an electron acceptor positioned at a controlled distance from the nanoparticle; and an electron acceptor. The nanoparticle can be a quantum dot and the electron acceptor can be C60 fullerene. Emission correlates with cellular membrane potential.

Abstract: A construct for detecting cellular membrane potential includes a nanoparticle operable as an electron donor; a modular peptide attached to the nanoparticle, the peptide comprising a nanoparticle association domain, a motif configured to mediate peptide insertion into the plasma membrane, and at least one attachment point for an electron acceptor positioned at a controlled distance from the nanoparticle; and an electron acceptor. The nanoparticle can be a quantum dot and the electron acceptor can be C60 fullerene. Photoacoustic emission from the construct correlates with cellular membrane potential.

Abstract: A construct for detecting cellular membrane potential includes a nanoparticle operable as an electron donor; a modular peptide attached to the nanoparticle, the peptide comprising a nanoparticle association domain, a motif configured to mediate peptide insertion into the plasma membrane, and at least one attachment point for an electron acceptor positioned at a controlled distance from the nanoparticle; and an electron acceptor. The nanoparticle can be a quantum dot and the electron acceptor can be C60 fullerene. Emission correlates with cellular membrane potential.

Abstract: A new nanoparticle (NP)-based, multicomponent delivery/reporter construct can mediate the controlled, spatiotemporal, active release of an appended cargo to the cytosol of mammalian cells. The construct comprises components including (1) a central NP scaffold, for example a photoluminescent quantum dot (QD); (2) a bridging structure that self-assembles to the NP surface (for example, histidine-tagged maltose binding protein); and (3) a cargo, for example a ligand-dye/drug conjugate, incorporating a ligand that allows the cargo to releasably bind to the bridging structure (e.g., a ?-cyclodextrin ligand for binding to maltose binding protein).

Abstract: This disclosure concerns a method of making a ligand for Quantum Dot functionalization, a method of making a functionalized Quantum Dot (QD) with a ligand, and a method of making a transparent luminescent quantum dot thiol-yne nanocomposite with tailorable optical, thermal, and mechanical properties. The prepolymer solution and functionalized Quantum Dot can be used in additive manufacturing.

Abstract: Provided are compositions and methods for promoting tolerance to auto-immune antigens. In general the compositions include quantum dots (QDs) that are in association with auto-immune peptide antigens. It is shown that QDs can be used to generate immunological tolerance by controlling the density of self-antigen on QDs. Peptide-QDs rapidly concentrate in draining lymph nodes, and co-localize with macrophages expressing scavenger receptors involved intolerance. Treatment with peptide-QDs reduces disease incidence 10-fold. The degree of tolerance and the underlying expansion of regulatory T cells correlates with the density of myelin molecules presented on QDs such that higher numbers of tolerogenic particles displaying lower levels of self-peptide are more effective for inducing tolerance than fewer particles each displaying higher densities of peptide. The disclosure is therefore relevant to promoting tolerance to antigens that are involved in a variety of autoimmune disorders.

Abstract: A construct for detecting cellular membrane potential includes a nanoparticle operable as an electron donor; a modular peptide attached to the nanoparticle, the peptide comprising a nanoparticle association domain, a motif configured to mediate peptide insertion into the plasma membrane, and at least one attachment point for an electron acceptor positioned at a controlled distance from the nanoparticle; and an electron acceptor. The nanoparticle can be a quantum dot and the electron acceptor can be C60 fullerene. Photoacoustic emission from the construct correlates with cellular membrane potential.

Abstract: A construct for detecting cellular membrane potential includes a nanoparticle operable as an electron donor; a modular peptide attached to the nanoparticle, the peptide comprising a nanoparticle association domain, a motif configured to mediate peptide insertion into the plasma membrane, and at least one attachment point for an electron acceptor positioned at a controlled distance from the nanoparticle; and an electron acceptor. The nanoparticle can be a quantum dot and the electron acceptor can be C60 fullerene. Emission correlates with cellular membrane potential.