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Specific cellular delivery and intracellular fate of quantum dot- peptide and quantum dot-polymer nanoassemblies

Luminescent semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) possess several unique optical and spectroscopic properties that are of great interest and promise in biology. These properties suggest that QDs will be integral to the development of the next generation of biosensors capable of detecting molecular processes in both living and fixed cells. We are developing robust and facile delivery schemes for the selective intracellular delivery of QD-based nanoassemblies. These schemes are based upon the self-assembly and subsequent cellular uptake of QD-peptide and QD-polymer bioconjugates. The QD-peptide structures are generated by the self-assembly of the peptide onto CdSe-ZnS core-shell QDs via metal ion coordination between the peptide's polyhistidine motif and the Zn-rich QD shell. The polymer-based QD assemblies are formed via the electrostatic interaction of aqueous cationic liposomes with available carboxylate moieties on the QD surface ligands. Cellular delivery experiments utilizing both delivery schemes will be presented. The advantages and disadvantages of each approach will be discussed, including the intracellular fate and stability of the QD-nanoassemblies.