Quantum Defect Sensitization via Phase-Changing Supercharged Antibody Fragments

• DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c00149
• Publication Date: 2024-04-30T13:37:12Z
• Authors: Mijin Kim; James J. McCann; Jacob Fortner; Ewelina Randall; Chen Chen; Yu Chen; Zvi Yaari; YuHuang Wang; Ronald L. Koder; Daniel A. Heller
• Keywords: Intrinsically Disordered Proteins; Protein Folding; Nanotubes, Carbon; Interleukin-6; Quantum Theory; Humans; Single-Chain Antibodies

Quantum defects in single-walled carbon nanotubes promote exciton localization, which enables potential applications biodevices and quantum light sources. However, the effects of local electric fields on emissive energy states how they can be controlled are unexplored. Here, we investigate defect sensitization by engineering an intrinsically disordered protein to undergo a phase change at site. We designed supercharged single-chain antibody fragment (scFv) enable full ligand-induced folding transition from state compact folded presence cytokine. The scFv was conjugated induce substantial upon ligand binding. Employing detection proinflammatory biomarker, interleukin-6, as representative model system, scFv-coupled exhibited robust fluorescence wavelength shifts concomitant with transition. chemical simulations suggest that amplify optical response localization charges produced antigen-induced proteins, is difficult achieve unmodified nanotubes. These findings portend new approaches modulate emission for biomarker sensing biophysics engineer proteins binding signal transduction.