From glutathione capping to a crosslinked, phytochelatin-like coating of quantum dots

A study was conducted to demonstrate crosslinked peptide coating on the surface of quantum dots (QDs). The study used crosslinked glutathione-capped QDs to conjugate with doxorubicin or magnetic nanoparticles. Glutathione has glutamic acid, cysteine, and glycine. The study synthesized the highly fluorescent GSH-capped QDs by using thiol groups as capping agents. It was observed during the study that that quantum yields of QDs decreased after coating with polymer or silica. The study also found that the quantum yield of other organometallic QDs increased after ligand exchange with GSH. The study used HRTEM to determine the monodispersity. The study concluded that the proposed method can be used for other peptide-capped nanoparticles to produce crosslinked coating through conjugation with bioprobes.