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DNA-based programming of quantum dot valency, self-assembly and luminescence

Nature Nanotechnology volume 6, pages 485–490 (2011)Cite this article

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Abstract

The electronic and optical properties of colloidal quantum dots, including the wavelengths of light that they can absorb and emit, depend on the size of the quantum dots. These properties have been exploited in a number of applications including optical detection1,2,3, solar energy harvesting4,5 and biological research6,7. Here, we report the self-assembly of quantum dot complexes using cadmium telluride nanocrystals capped with specific sequences of DNA. Quantum dots with between one and five DNA-based binding sites are synthesized and then used as building blocks to create a variety of rationally designed assemblies, including cross-shaped complexes containing three different types of dots. The structure of the complexes is confirmed with transmission electron microscopy, and photophysical studies are used to quantify energy transfer among the constituent components. Through changes in pH, the conformation of the complexes can also be reversibly switched, turning on and off the transfer of energy between the constituent quantum dots.

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Figure 1: Synthetic strategy for the development of quantum dots exhibiting strong luminescence, tunable emission spectrum, programmable valency and highly controllable binding energy.
Figure 2: Experimental results showing control over DNA-programmed quantum dots.
Figure 3: Representative high-resolution TEM images of DNA-programmed quantum dot complexes.
Figure 4: Optical characteristics of DNA-programmed quantum dot complexes.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge support from the National Institutes of Health (R21 to S.O.K.), the Ontario Research Fund (ORF-RE to S.O.K. and E.H.S.) and the Canada Research Chairs programme (E.H.S.).

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Author notes

  1. Grigory Tikhomirov and Sjoerd Hoogland: These authors contributed equally to this work

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, 144 College Street, Toronto, M5S 3M2, Ontario, Canada

    Grigory Tikhomirov, P. E. Lee & Shana O. Kelley

  2. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Toronto, 10 King's College Road, Toronto, M5S 3G4, Ontario, Canada

    Sjoerd Hoogland, Armin Fischer & Edward H. Sargent

  3. Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, M5S 1A8, Ontario, Canada

    Shana O. Kelley

Authors
  1. Grigory Tikhomirov
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  2. Sjoerd Hoogland
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  3. P. E. Lee
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  4. Armin Fischer
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  5. Edward H. Sargent
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  6. Shana O. Kelley
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Contributions

G.T. and S.O.K. designed the protocols for the synthesis of the nanoparticles and complexes. S.H., G.T. and E.H.S. designed and interpreted the energy transfer studies. G.T., P.E.L. and A.F. carried out materials analysis, and worked with E.H.S. and S.O.K. in their interpretation. E.H.S. and S.O.K. co-wrote the paper with contributions from G.T., S.H., A.F. and P.E.L.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Edward H. Sargent or Shana O. Kelley.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Tikhomirov, G., Hoogland, S., Lee, P. et al. DNA-based programming of quantum dot valency, self-assembly and luminescence. Nature Nanotech 6, 485–490 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/nnano.2011.100

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