This project seeks to design a series of semiconductor luminescent quantum dots (QDs) with controlled and tunable molecular interactions with specific bacterial targets. Previous studies in our laboratory made use of optical spectroscopy, inductive coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and fluorescence microscopy to investigate the interactions between semiconductor QDs and bacteria. Results from these experiments have increased our understanding of the mechanisms of toxic interactions between semiconductor QDs and bacteria, and how to control these interactions. Additionally, we synthesized poly(oxynorborene)-coated gold nanoparticles (PON-AuNPs), and demonstrated that changes in the molecular structure of free PONs greatly impact the membrane disruption activity of free PONs and PONs-AuNPs. The current study aims to validate the hypothesis that combining the anti-bacterial activity of luminescent quantum dots with the anti-bacterial activity of PONs, by forming PONs-QDs, will lead to synergistic anti-bacterial activity.

Modifying the interactions between semiconductor quantum dots and bacterial targets

256th National Meeting (2018)

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