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. 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: Nanoparticles (and optionally a cargo such as a drug) can be delivered to cells by attaching just a single dendritic peptide to the nanoparticle. The dendritic peptide includes a polyhisitidine motif and a hinge and a spacer connecting the polyhistidine to a lysine-based dendritic wedge displaying at least two copies of a cell-penetrating peptide motif.

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: Nanoparticles (and optionally a cargo such as a drug) can be delivered to cells by attaching just a single dendritic peptide to the nanoparticle. The dendritic peptide includes a polyhisitidine motif and a hinge and a spacer connecting the polyhistidine to a lysine-based dendritic wedge displaying at least two copies of a cell-penetrating peptide motif.

Abstract: A peptide attached to a nanoparticles (such as quantum dots) selectively directs the nanoparticles to neurons in a tissue or organism.

Abstract: A peptide directs nanoparticles (such as quantum dots) to the plasma membrane of mammalian cells. A method of delivery of a nanoparticle to a plasma membrane of a cell includes providing to the cell a nanoparticle attached to a peptide configured to direct the nanoparticle the plasma membrane, and allowing the cell to take up the nanoparticle. The nanoparticle can be a FRET donor to an organic dye.

Abstract: Described are nucleic acids encoding a polypeptide for delivery of a nanoparticle to the cytosol, the peptide comprising: (a) a nanoparticle association domain, (b) a spacer domain, (c) an uptake domain, and (d) a vesicle escape domain, wherein the domains (a) through (d) appear in the same order as listed above, and wherein the peptide, upon addition of a non-hydrolyzable lipophilic moiety to the vesicle escape domain and binding to a nanoparticle, is effective to induce uptake of a nanoparticle by a cell and delivery of the nanoparticle to the cytosol of the cell. Also described are methods of delivery of a nanoparticle to the cytosol of a cell, the method comprising providing to a cell a nanoparticle attached to such a peptide. Exemplary nanoparticles include quantum dots.

Abstract: Described are nucleic acids encoding a polypeptide for delivery of a nanoparticle to the cytosol, the peptide comprising: (a) a nanoparticle association domain, (b) a spacer domain, (c) an uptake domain, and (d) a vesicle escape domain, wherein the domains (a) through (d) appear in the same order as listed above, and wherein the peptide, upon addition of a non-hydrolyzable lipophilic moiety to the vesicle escape domain and binding to a nanoparticle, is effective to induce uptake of a nanoparticle by a cell and delivery of the nanoparticle to the cytosol of the cell. Also described are methods of delivery of a nanoparticle to the cytosol of a cell, the method comprising providing to a cell a nanoparticle attached to such a peptide. Exemplary nanoparticles include quantum dots.

Abstract: A peptide attached to a nanoparticles (such as quantum dots) selectively directs the nanoparticles to neurons in a tissue or organism.

Abstract: A peptide directs nanoparticles (such as quantum dots) to the plasma membrane of mammalian cells. A method of delivery of a nanoparticle to a plasma membrane of a cell includes providing to the cell a nanoparticle attached to a peptide configured to direct the nanoparticle the plasma membrane, and allowing the cell to take up the nanoparticle. The nanoparticle can be a FRET donor to an organic dye.

Abstract: Described are peptides for delivery of a nanoparticle to the cytosol, the peptide comprising: (a) a nanoparticle association domain; (b) a proline-rich spacer domain; (c) an uptake domain; and (d) a vesicle escape domain comprising a non-hydrolyzable lipid moiety, wherein the spacer domain is between the nanoparticle association domain and the uptake and vesicle escape domains, and wherein the peptide, when attached to an extracellular nanoparticle, is effective to induce uptake of the nanoparticle by a cell and delivery of the nanoparticle to the cytosol of the cell. Also described are methods of delivery of a nanoparticle to the cytosol of a cell, the method comprising providing to a cell a nanoparticle attached to such a peptide. Exemplary nanoparticles include quantum dots.

Abstract: A method for covalent attachment of peptides to luminescent quantum dots or other inorganic nanoparticles. The first step in the method involves functionalizing at least a portion of a surface of the quantum dot or nanoparticle with one or more materials having at least one reactive functional group therein. Subsequently, a peptide having a reactive functional group is reacted with at least some of the quantum dot or nanoparticle reactive functional groups to covalently bond at least some of the peptide to the quantum dots or nanoparticles. Modifications of the basic method are disclosed which provide methods allowing customized fabrication of quantum dots having a variety of different functional properties and combinations of functional properties. Also disclosed are quantum dots and nanoparticles made by the methods of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the structure of Fab 4E10, e.g., as a complex with herein identified peptide KGND, herein identified as a 4E10 mimetope on gp41, as determined by crystallographic techniques, and the confirmation that peptide KGND has a functional relevant conformation, as well as the determination of key residues on 4E10, and uses thereof and compounds and compositions therefrom. Furthermore, the invention also relates to other peptides and mimetic peptides which bind to Fab 4E10.

Abstract: Described are peptides for delivery of a nanoparticle to the cytosol, the peptide comprising: (a) a nanoparticle association domain; (b) a proline-rich spacer domain; (c) an uptake domain; and (d) a vesicle escape domain comprising a non-hydrolyzable lipid moiety, wherein the spacer domain is between the nanoparticle association domain and the uptake and vesicle escape domains, and wherein the peptide, when attached to an extracellular nanoparticle, is effective to induce uptake of the nanoparticle by a cell and delivery of the nanoparticle to the cytosol of the cell. Also described are methods of delivery of a nanoparticle to the cytosol of a cell, the method comprising providing to a cell a nanoparticle attached to such a peptide. Exemplary nanoparticles include quantum dots.

Abstract: A method for covalent attachment of peptides to luminescent quantum dots or other inorganic nanoparticles. The first step in the method involves functionalizing at least a portion of a surface of the quantum dot or nanoparticle with one or more materials having at least one reactive functional group therein. Subsequently, a peptide having a reactive functional group is reacted with at least some of the quantum dot or nanoparticle reactive functional groups to covalently bond at least some of the peptide to the quantum dots or nanoparticles. Modifications of the basic method are disclosed which provide methods allowing customized fabrication of quantum dots having a variety of different functional properties and combinations of functional properties. Also disclosed are quantum dots and nanoparticles made by the methods of the present invention.

Abstract: Proteins of moderate size having native peptide backbones are produced by a method of native chemical ligation. Native chemical ligation employs a chemoselective reaction of two unprotected peptide segments to produce a transient thioester-linked intermediate. The transient thioester-linked intermediate then spontaneously undergoes a rearrangement to provide the full length ligation product having a native peptide bond at the ligation site. Full length ligation products are chemically identical to proteins produced by cell free synthesis. Full length ligation products may be refolded and/or oxidized, as allowed, to form native disulfide-containing protein molecules. The technique of native chemical ligation is employable for chemically synthesizing full length proteins.