Biosynthesis of luminescent quantum dots in an earthworm

Stürzenbaum, S. R.; Höckner, M.; Panneerselvam, A.; Levitt, J.; Bouillard, J. S.; Taniguchi, S.; Dailey, L. A.; Khanbeigi, R. Ahmad; Rosca, E. V.; Thanou, M.; Suhling, K.; Zayats, A. V.; Green, M.

Abstract

The synthesis of designer solid-state materials by living organisms is an emerging field in bio-nanotechnology. Key examples include the use of engineered viruses as templates for cobalt oxide (Co3O4) particles1, superparamagnetic cobalt–platinum alloy nanowires2and gold–cobalt oxide nanowires3for photovoltaic and battery-related applications. Here, we show that the earthworm's metal detoxification pathway can be exploited to produce luminescent, water-soluble semiconductor cadmium telluride (CdTe) quantum dots that emit in the green region of the visible spectrum when excited in the ultraviolet region. Standard wild-typeLumbricus rubellusearthworms were exposed to soil spiked with CdCl2and Na2TeO3salts for 11 days. Luminescent quantum dots were isolated from chloragogenous tissues surrounding the gut of the worm, and were successfully used in live-cell imaging. The addition of polyethylene glycol on the surface of the quantum dots allowed for non-targeted, fluid-phase uptake by macrophage cells.

Citation

Stürzenbaum, S. R., Höckner, M., Panneerselvam, A., Levitt, J., Bouillard, J. S., Taniguchi, S., Dailey, L. A., Khanbeigi, R. A., Rosca, E. V., Thanou, M., Suhling, K., Zayats, A. V., & Green, M. (2013). Biosynthesis of luminescent quantum dots in an earthworm. Nature nanotechnology, 8(1), 57-60. https://doi.org/10.1038/nnano.2012.232

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 16, 2012
• Online Publication Date: Dec 23, 2012
• Publication Date: 2013-01
• Deposit Date: Nov 13, 2014
• Journal: Nature Nanotechnology
• Print ISSN: 1748-3387
• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group
• Peer Reviewed: Not Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 8
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 57-60
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nnano.2012.232
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/469880
• Contract Date: Nov 13, 2014