Systems and methods related to optical nanosensors comprising photoluminescent nanostructures
Systems and methods related to optical nanosensors comprising photoluminescent nanostructures are generally described.
1. A nanosensor for determining an analyte, comprising:
a photoluminescent nanostructure; and
a polymer comprising a polypeptide associated with the photoluminescent nanostructure, wherein
the nanosensor emits a first emission of electromagnetic radiation in the absence of the analyte;
the nanosensor emits a second emission of electromagnetic radiation, distinguishable from the first emission, upon the polypeptide interacting with the analyte; and
the polymer comprises a polypeptide sequence, or derivative thereof, observed in the venom of a member of the Insecta class; a member of the Hymenoptera order; or a member of the Vespidae or Apidae families.
2. The nanosensor of claim 1 , wherein the polymer comprises a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of: an amphiphilic helical polypeptide; a polypeptide including between about 5 and about 50 amino acid residues; and a polypeptide with a molecular weight of between about 400 g/mol and about 10,000 g/mol.
3. The nanosensor of claim 1 , wherein the polymer comprises a polypeptide, or derivative thereof, from the Mastoparan or Bombolitin peptide families.
4. The nanosensor of claim 1 , wherein the polymer comprises a polypeptide comprising at least one of KKAAAVLLPVLLAAP (SEQ ID NO: 1), EEEECCCCHSSYWYAFNNKT (SEQ ID NO: 2), INLKALAALAKKIL (SEQ ID NO: 3), INLKALAALAKALL (SEQ ID NO: 4), INWKGIAAMAKKLL (SEQ ID NO: 5), IKIMDILAKLGKVLAHV (SEQ ID NO: 6), INIKDILAKLVKVLGHV (SEQ ID NO: 7), IKITTMLAKLGKVLAHV (SEQ ID NO: 8), or SKITDILAKLGKVLAHV (SEQ ID NO: 9).
5. The nanosensor of claim 1 , wherein the nanosensor emits a third emission of electromagnetic radiation, distinguishable from the first emission and the second emission, upon interacting with a second analyte.
6. The nanosensor of claim 1 , wherein the photoluminescent nanostructure comprises a carbon nanotube.
7. The nanosensor of claim 6 , wherein the photoluminescent nanostructure comprises a single-walled carbon nanotube.
8. The nanosensor of claim 7 , wherein the photoluminescent nanostructure comprises a semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotube.
9. A nanosensor for determining a nitroaryl group, a pesticide, an explosive, a 2,4-dinitrophenol, a 4-nitro-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenol, a picric acid, a trinitrotoluene, or a cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine, comprising:
a photoluminescent nanostructure; and
a polymer comprising a polypeptide associated with the photoluminescent nanostructure, wherein
the nanosensor emits a first emission of electromagnetic radiation in the absence of the nitroaryl group, the pesticide, the explosive, the 2,4-dinitrophenol, the 4-nitro-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenol, the picric acid, the trinitrotoluene, and the cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine;
the nanosensor emits a second emission of electromagnetic radiation, distinguishable from the first emission, upon the polypeptide interacting with the nitroaryl group, the pesticide, the explosive, the 2,4-dinitrophenol, the 4-nitro-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenol, the picric acid, the trinitrotoluene, or the cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine; and
the polymer comprises a polypeptide sequence, or derivative thereof, observed in the venom of a member of the Insecta class; a member of the Hymenoptera order; or a member of the Vespidae or Apidae families.
10. The nanosensor of claim 9 , wherein the polymer comprises a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of: an amphiphilic helical polypeptide; a polypeptide including between about 5 and about 50 amino acid residues; and a polypeptide with a molecular weight of between about 400 g/mol and about 10,000 g/mol.
11. The nanosensor of claim 9 , wherein the polymer comprises a polypeptide, or derivative thereof, from the Mastoparan or Bombolitin peptide families.
12. The nanosensor of claim 9 , wherein the polymer comprises a polypeptide comprising at least one of KKAAAVLLPVLLAAP (SEQ ID NO: 1), EEEECCCCHSSYWYAFNNKT (SEQ ID NO: 2), INLKALAALAKKIL (SEQ ID NO: 3), INLKALAALAKALL (SEQ ID NO: 4), INWKGIAAMAKKLL (SEQ ID NO: 5), IKIMDILAKLGKVLAHV (SEQ ID NO: 6), INIKDILAKLVKVLGHV (SEQ ID NO: 7), IKITTMLAKLGKVLAHV (SEQ ID NO: 8), or SKITDILAKLGKVLAHV (SEQ ID NO: 9).
13. The nanosensor of claim 9 , wherein the nanosensor emits a third emission of electromagnetic radiation, distinguishable from the first emission and the second emission, upon interacting with a second nitroaryl group, a second pesticide, a second explosive, a second 2,4-dinitrophenol, a second 4-nitro-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenol, a second picric acid, a second trinitrotoluene, or a second cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine.
14. The nanosensor of claim 9 , wherein the photoluminescent nanostructure comprises a carbon nanotube.
15. The nanosensor of claim 14 , wherein the photoluminescent nanostructure comprises a single-walled carbon nanotube.
16. The nanosensor of claim 15 , wherein the photoluminescent nanostructure comprises a semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotube.