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Water‐Soluble, Thermostable, Photomodulated Color‐Switching Quantum Dots
Author(s) -
Díaz Sebastián A.,
Gillanders Florencia,
Susumu Kimihiro,
Oh Eunkeu,
Medintz Igor L.,
Jovin Thomas M.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
chemistry – a european journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.687
H-Index - 242
eISSN - 1521-3765
pISSN - 0947-6539
DOI - 10.1002/chem.201604688
Subject(s) - fluorescence , förster resonance energy transfer , quantum dot , photochemistry , irradiation , absorption (acoustics) , acceptor , optoelectronics , materials science , emission spectrum , visible spectrum , absorption spectroscopy , photochromism , chemistry , optics , spectral line , physics , astronomy , nuclear physics , composite material , condensed matter physics
Photoswitchable probes are of great utility in fluorescence microscopy, permitting numerous determinations, including molecular localization for super‐resolution, based on their modifiable emission intensity and spectra. We have coated a blue‐emitting (425 nm) quantum dot (QD) with a diheteroarylethene photochrome (PCf), the closed form isomer of which has absorption and emission maxima at 440 and 520–530 nm, respectively, and thus functions as a fluorescent acceptor for the QD donor in Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET). The transition from the non‐absorbing, non‐fluorescent open state to the fluorescent closed state is achieved by irradiation in the near‐UV and reversed by visible light. The PCf is coupled to an amphiphilic polymer that stably coats the QD, thereby creating a water‐soluble color‐switching QD (csQD) emitting in the blue after visible light irradiation and in the green after UV irradiation. Thus, csQDs photomodulate between two observable states, without the “off” state of previous constructs. The resulting change in the emission ratios of the QD and PCf is up to 180 %, and the csQD can undergo multiple photocycles with minimal fatigue.