Developing Functionalized Doped-ZnS Quantum Dots for E. Coli Detection

Contamination of fresh water by water-borne pathogens is becoming an increasing concern. Highly sensitive methods for detecting chemical and biological species are essential for effective environmental monitoring. Quantum dots (QDs) are fluorescent semiconductor nanoparticles with tunable optical and surface properties, making them versatile tools for biochemical applications. Transition-metal doped zinc sulfide (doped-ZnS) QDs offer visible fluorescence that can undergo Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) with another fluorophore, which results in a sensitive environmental monitoring method. This research explores the process of doped-ZnS QD functionalization, with the end goal of detecting E. coli in water samples using single-stranded DNA-conjugated doped-ZnS QD probes.