Altering natural photosynthesis through quantum dots: effect of quantum dots on viability, light harvesting capacity and growth of photosynthetic organisms

Abstract

Quantum dots are versatile fluorescent semiconductor nanocrystals with unique photophysical properties. They have been used in various research fields of biotechnology effectively for almost three decades including cell imaging, protein tracking, energy transfer, etc. With their great potential as energy donors or acceptors, quantum dots have also been used in many studies about altering growth rate and photosynthetic activity of photosynthetic organisms by manipulating their light harvesting capacity. In this review, effect of quantum dots on growth rate of photosynthetic organisms and light harvesting capacity of photosynthetic organisms were discussed in details together with toxic effects of cadmium-based and carbon-based quantum dots on photosynthetic organisms. In short, as one of the promising materials of nanotechnology, quantum dots have become one of the essential research topics in photosynthesis research area and will help researchers to manipulate natural photosynthesis in future.

Modulating spectral response of raw photosynthetic pigments via ternary cadmium chalcogenide quantum dots: simultaneous enhancement at green spectrum and inhibition at UV region

“…Quantum dots (QDs), which are fluorescent semiconductor nanocrystals with a diameter smaller than the Bohr-exciton diameter, have found applications in various studies related to natural photosynthesis (Schmitt et al 2012 ; Lukashev et al 2016 ; Budak et al 2020 ; Liu et al 2021 ; Parrish et al 2021 ; Ünlü et al 2022 ). The unique photophysical properties of QDs have made them a subject of interest for investigating their interaction with isolated photosystems or components of photosystems, such as reaction centers and light-harvesting complexes.…”

“…The unique photophysical properties of QDs have made them a subject of interest for investigating their interaction with isolated photosystems or components of photosystems, such as reaction centers and light-harvesting complexes. Since the early 2000s, researchers have been exploring the potential of QDs as energy donors to enhance light-harvesting (Schmitt et al 2012 ; Lukashev et al 2016 ; Budak et al 2020 ; Liu et al 2021 ; Parrish et al 2021 ; Ünlü et al 2022 ). Particularly, cadmium-based QDs (such as CdTe, CdSe/ZnS, CdSe) capped with polymeric ligands or thiol-carboxylate-based ligands have been considered promising energy donors for light-harvesting complexes isolated from plants, purple bacteria, microalgae, and other organisms (Schmitt et al 2012 ; Lukashev et al 2016 ; Budak et al 2020 ; Liu et al 2021 ; Parrish et al 2021 ; Ünlü et al 2022 ).…”

“…Since the early 2000s, researchers have been exploring the potential of QDs as energy donors to enhance light-harvesting (Schmitt et al 2012 ; Lukashev et al 2016 ; Budak et al 2020 ; Liu et al 2021 ; Parrish et al 2021 ; Ünlü et al 2022 ). Particularly, cadmium-based QDs (such as CdTe, CdSe/ZnS, CdSe) capped with polymeric ligands or thiol-carboxylate-based ligands have been considered promising energy donors for light-harvesting complexes isolated from plants, purple bacteria, microalgae, and other organisms (Schmitt et al 2012 ; Lukashev et al 2016 ; Budak et al 2020 ; Liu et al 2021 ; Parrish et al 2021 ; Ünlü et al 2022 ). However, despite many studies having been done to understand the effect of the presence of quantum dots on isolated systems like photosystems or light-harvesting complexes, there hasn't been any study conducted on the interaction between raw PPs (isolated crude PPs without any further purification/isolation) and cadmium-based QDs, which could provide valuable insights into the fundamental interaction between intact chlorophyll-carotenoid complexes and QDs.…”

Preparation of Wood-Based Carbon Quantum Dots and Promotion of Light Capture Applications

“…In biotechnology, quantum dots, multifunctional fluorescent semiconductor nanomaterials with unique photophysical properties, find extensive applications [11][12][13]. Due to the significant potential of quantum dots as energy donors or acceptors, they are often utilized in numerous studies to regulate the light-harvesting capacity of photosynthetic organisms and enhance their photosynthetic activity and growth rate [14]. Quantum dots have become a significant research subject in the field of photosynthesis, with great potential as nanomaterials [6,15].…”