Self-illuminating dot systems and methods of use thereof
Generally, conjugate systems, self-illuminating quantum dot conjugates, methods of detecting a target in a host, methods of treating a disease in a host, and the like, are described herein.
1. A conjugate system, comprising: a self-illuminating quantum dot conjugate and a bioluminescence initiating compound, wherein the self-illuminating quantum dot conjugate includes a bioluminescence donor molecule and a quantum dot, wherein the bioluminescence donor molecule is directly bound to the quantum dot, wherein the bioluminescence donor molecule and the bioluminescence initiating compound interact to produce a bioluminescence energy, and wherein the quantum dot emits a fluorescence energy in response to the non-radiative transfer of the bioluminescence energy from the bioluminescence donor molecule to the quantum dot.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the bioluminescence donor molecule is a Luciferase protein.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the bioluminescence donor molecule is a Renilla Luciferase protein.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the bioluminescence donor molecule is a mutated Renilla Luciferase protein comprising SEQ ID NO: 2.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the self-illuminating quantum dot conjugate includes a first agent.
6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the first agent has an affinity for a target, where the target is selected from the group consisting of: a compound, a polypeptide, a polynucleotide, an antibody, an antigen, a hapten, a cell type, a tissue type functional group and a tissue type.
7. The system of claim 5 , wherein the self-illuminating quantum dot conjugate includes a second agent, wherein the second agent is effective at treating a disease.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the self-illuminating quantum dot conjugate includes a second agent, wherein the second agent is effective at treating a disease.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the quantum dot comprises a core and a cap.
10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the core of the quantum dot is selected from the group consisting of: IIB-VIB semiconductors, IIIB-VB semiconductors, and IVB-IVB semiconductors; and wherein the cap is selected from: IIB-VIB semiconductors of high band gap.
11. The structure of claim 10 , wherein the core of the quantum dot is selected from the group consisting of: CdS and CdSe, and the cap is selected from ZnS and CdS.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the bioluminescence donor molecule is a Luciferase protein.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the bioluminescence donor molecule is a mutated Renilla Luciferase protein comprising SEQ ID NO: 2.
14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the quantum dot is CdSe/ZnS.
15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the bioluminescence initiating compound is selected from the group consisting of: coelenterazine, analogs, and functional derivatives thereof, and D-luciferin analogs, and functional derivatives thereof.
16. The conjugate system of claim 1 , wherein the quantum dot comprises a quantum dot composite.
17. The system of claim 6 , wherein the self-illuminating quantum dot conjugate includes a second agent, wherein the second agent is biocompatibility agent.