MODULAR, MULTIFUNCTIONAL NANOPARTICLE-BASED BIOCONJUGATE FOR REALTIME VISUALIZATION OF CELLULAR MEMBRANE POTENTIAL

摘要

A construct for detecting cellular membrane potential includes a nanoparticle operable as an electron donor; a modular peptide attached to the nanoparticle, the peptide comprising a nanoparticle association domain, a motif configured to mediate peptide insertion into the plasma membrane, and at least one attachment point for an electron acceptor positioned at a controlled distance from the nanoparticle; and an electron acceptor. The nanoparticle can be a quantum dot and the electron acceptor can be C60 fullerene. Emission correlates with cellular membrane potential.