Synthesis of Water Soluble Quantum Dots and their Application for Enzymatic Activity Measurements

Luminescenct Quantum Dots (QDs) intrigue the interest of researchers with their properties of high quantum yield, broad absorption and narrow emission spectra. Since prepared in organic solvents, QDs are not suitable for biological systems. In my study, several methods of "cap exchange" were tested to enable forming water-soluble QDs with minimal aggregation .The QD-mercaptoacetic acid is simple to synthesize and has good water-solubility, but the QDs are not stable. The direct attachment of peptide molecules to the QDs can passivate the surface and enable water solubility of QDs. It is only applicable for phytochelatin-related peptides, not for all kind of peptides. The co-coupling peptide and PEG on QDs, has good water-solubility when the quantity of PEG and coupling agent EDAC are controlled. The enzymatic activities based on QDs FRET system at different environments was demonstrated and the results show that pH affect the enzymatic activity significantly.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Chemistry

Year

2006

Author dc:creator

• Long, Ying

Contributors dc:contributor

• Rosenzweig, Zeev
• Cole, Richard
• Wang, Guijun

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholarworks.uno.edu/td/408

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarworks.uno.edu:td-1429