Laser-assisted synthesis of Staphylococcus aureus protein-capped silicon quantum dots as bio-functional nanoprobes

Year: 2013

Authors: Bagga K., Barchanski A., Intartaglia R., Dante S., Marotta R., Diaspro A., Sajti C.L., Brandi F.

Autors Affiliation: Nanophysics, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Morego 30, I-16163 Genova, Italy;
Laser Zentrum Hannover E.V., Nanotechnology Department, Hollerithallee 8, D-30419 Hannover, Germany;
Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Morego 30, I-16163 Genova, Italy;
Nanochemistry, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Morego, 30, I-16163 Genova, Italy

Abstract: A novel approach for nanofabricating protein-functionalized luminescent silicon nanoparticles based on infrared ultrafast laser ablation of silicon in an aqueous solution of Staphylococcus aureus protein A is reported. It is demonstrated that 8 nm protein A-capped silicon quantum dots with blue-green photoemissive properties are generated. The conjugation efficiency studies reveal a high percentage of protein A attached to the Si nanoparticle surface through physical adsorption phenomena during the in situ laser process. The biological functionality of laser-generated Staphylococcus aureus protein A-capped Si nanoparticles is investigated. Confocal and electron microscopy together with energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy analysis show that these Si-based bio-nanostructures selectively bind IgG in the cells. Cell viability studies reveal that these protein A-capped Si nanoparticles are suitable for biological applications, demonstrating their potential as universal secondary biomarkers for in vivo applications such as long-term, real-time cell labeling, cell staining and controlled drug delivery.

Journal/Review: LASER PHYSICS LETTERS

Volume: 10 (6)      Pages from: 065603-1  to: 065603-8

More Information: The authors gratefully acknowledge Dr Alberto Curcio for helping with the confocal microscopy experiments. AB and CLS thank the German Research Foundation within the Excellence Cluster REBIRTH for funding.
KeyWords: NANOPARTICLES; CELLS; PHOTOSENSITIZERS; CYTOTOXICITY; SURFACES
DOI: 10.1088/1612-2011/10/6/065603

Citations: 40
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