Development of Hydrophilic and Reactive QDs: Ligand Design, Surface Characterization and Effective Strategies for Coupling to Biomolecules

化学系的大分子、超分子和纳米化学（MSN）项目将支持佛罗里达州立大学Hedi Mattoussi教授的研究项目。Mattoussi教授和他的研究小组将开发用于生物应用的发光量子点探针。该项目的重点是开发一套模块化紧凑型多功能配体，用于覆盖基于发光量子点（QD）的纳米探针，并开发分析工具来表征它们。表征需要确定表面配体的密度，每个纳米颗粒的官能团数量，以及共价偶联的qd肽组件的开发，这些组件可以用作荧光共振能量转移底物来评估两种基质金属蛋白酶蛋白的酶活性。该项目将提供一个化学平台，以制备稳定的亲水发光量子点和量子点结构，可用于实时询问复杂的生物系统。例如，量子点结构可用于研究特定酶的动力学活性和配体与受体结合的动力学。提高对酶动力学和配体-受体结合相互作用的理解对于理解疾病发生和进展的分子机制以及开发新药至关重要。该研究将为寻求合成化学和生物成像跨学科研究培训的学生和研究生提供良好的培训机会。Mattoussi教授和他的学生将对本科生开展广泛的外展活动，包括佛罗里达农工大学代表性不足群体的学生，以扩大代表性不足群体的学生参与纳米科学研究。

The Macromolecular, Supramolecular and Nanochemistry (MSN) program of the Division of Chemistry will support the research program of Prof. Hedi Mattoussi of Florida State University. Prof. Mattoussi and his research group will develop luminescent quantum dot-based probes for biological applications. The project focuses on the development of a set of modular compact and multifunctional ligands for capping luminescent quantum dots (QD)-based nano-probes and the development of analytical tools to characterize them. Characterization entails determining the density of surface ligands, the number of functional groups per nanoparticle, and the development of covalently coupled QD-peptide assemblies that can be used as fluorescence resonance energy transfer substrates to evaluate the enzymatic activity of two matrix metalloproteinase proteins. The project will provide a chemical platform to prepare stable hydrophilic luminescent quantum dots and quantum dot constructs that could be used to interrogate complex biological systems in real time. For example, quantum dot-constructs could be used to study the kinetic activity of specific enzymes and the kinetics of ligand-receptor binding. Improved understanding of enzyme kinetics and ligand-receptor binding interactions is crucial to understanding the molecular mechanism of disease development and progression and for the development of new drugs. The study will provide excellent training opportunities to students and postgraduates who seek interdisciplinary research training in synthetic chemistry and biological imaging. Prof. Mattoussi and his students will carry out extensive outreach activities to undergraduate students, including students from underrepresented groups at Florida A&M to broaden participation of students from underrepresented groups in nanoscience research.