Fig. 2: Design and characterization of multifunctional quantum dots with chloroplast guiding peptide.
From: Targeted delivery of nanomaterials with chemical cargoes in plants enabled by a biorecognition motif
a Representative transmission electron microscopy image of MPA-QD showing the average diameter of the QD nanoparticle core of 4.3 ± 0.2 nm (n = 3). b Hydrodynamic diameter measured by DLS (pH 7) of MPA-QD (6.1 ± 0.5 nm, n = 4) and Chl-QD (24.5 ± 2.5 nm, n = 5). Values are means and ± indicates standard deviation. c High zeta potential of MPA-QD (−52.6 ± 4.7 mV, n = 6) and Chl-QD (−28.4 ± 3.8 mV, n = 17) that allows penetration through lipid bilayers in the cell membrane and chloroplasts. Box plot error bars represent standard deviation, boxes are the interquartile range from the first to the third quartile, and horizontal line represents the mean. Statistical comparison was performed by independent samples t-test (two tailed). *** indicates P < 0.001. d Fluorescence emission spectra of MPA-QD and Chl-QD in the range of low background fluorescence emission from leaves. e FTIR spectra of MPA-QD, β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) coated QD (CD-QD) and Chl-QD indicating successful functionalization of QD with β-CD and guiding peptide.
