Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

Nanorg Microbial Factories: Light-Driven Renewable Biochemical Synthesis Using Quantum Dot-Bacteria Nanobiohybrids

Ding, Yuchen; Bertram, John R.; Eckert, Carrie; Bommareddy, Rajesh Reddy; Patel, Rajan; Conradie, Alex; Bryan, Samantha; Nagpal, Prashant

Authors

Yuchen Ding

John R. Bertram

Carrie Eckert

Rajesh Reddy Bommareddy

Rajan Patel

Alex Conradie

Prashant Nagpal



Abstract

Living cells do not interface naturally with nanoscale materials, although such artificial organisms can have unprecedented multifunctional properties, like wireless activation of enzyme function using electromagnetic stimuli. Realizing such interfacing in a nanobiohybrid organism (or nanorg) requires (1) chemical coupling via affinity binding and self-assembly, (2) the energetic coupling between optoelectronic states of artificial materials with the cellular process, and (3) the design of appropriate interfaces ensuring biocompatibility. Here we show that seven different core−shell quantum dots (QDs), with excitations ranging from ultraviolet to near-infrared energies, couple with targeted enzyme sites in bacteria. When illuminated by light, these QDs drive the renewable production of different biofuels and chemicals using carbon-dioxide (CO2), water, and nitrogen (from air) as substrates. These QDs use their zinc-rich shell facets for affinity attachment to the proteins. Cysteine zwitterion ligands enable uptake through the cell, facilitating cell survival. Together, these nanorgs catalyze light-induced air−water−CO2 reduction with a high turnover number (TON) of ∼106-108 (mols of product per mol of cells) to biofuels like isopropanol (IPA), 2,3-butanediol (BDO), C11−C15 methyl ketones (MKs), and hydrogen (H2); and chemicals such as formic acid (FA), ammonia (NH3), ethylene (C2H4), and degradable bioplastics polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB). Therefore, these resting cells function as nanomicrobial factories powered by light.

Citation

Ding, Y., Bertram, J. R., Eckert, C., Bommareddy, R. R., Patel, R., Conradie, A., …Nagpal, P. (2019). Nanorg Microbial Factories: Light-Driven Renewable Biochemical Synthesis Using Quantum Dot-Bacteria Nanobiohybrids. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 141(26), 10272-10282. https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.9b02549

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jun 6, 2019
Online Publication Date Jun 19, 2019
Publication Date Jun 7, 2019
Deposit Date Jun 21, 2019
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Journal of the American Chemical Society
Print ISSN 0002-7863
Electronic ISSN 1520-5126
Publisher American Chemical Society
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 141
Issue 26
Pages 10272-10282
DOI https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.9b02549
Keywords Colloid and Surface Chemistry; Biochemistry; General Chemistry; Catalysis
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/2215239
Publisher URL https://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/jacs.9b02549

Files




You might also like



Downloadable Citations