Hydrophilic colloidal quantum dots with long peptide chain coats

•Transition of colloidal quantum dots from hydrophobic to hydrophilic environments is reported.•Long chains of membrane-scaffold proteins are used as cover.•Solubilization of hydrophobic quantum dots with detergents was necessary as intermediary step.

Here, the transition of colloidal CdSe quantum dots (QDs) from hydrophobic to hydrophilic environments after coating the surface with long peptide chains of membrane scaffold proteins (MSP) is reported. The intermediate step included the solubilization of QDs with detergents, where n-octyl glucoside was the most promising ligand. Furthermore, size analysis by fluorescence correlation spectroscopy, gel filtration and atomic force microscopy suggested that the obtained QD-MSP conjugates were primarily discoidal and were likely formed from single QDs tightly encircled by helix belts. In addition, Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy analysis confirmed the preservation of the secondary structure of most proteins during conjugate formation, with no signs of denaturation. The obtained QD-MSP conjugates were optimal in terms of stability in water environments, suggesting that it is possible to obtain QDs with single peptide coats and providing the first guidelines for future research in this direction.

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