Spectroscopic investigation of water‐soluble alloyed QDs with bovine serum albumin

We present here a systematic investigation on the interaction between a water‐soluble alloyed semiconductor quantum dot and bovine serum albumin using various spectroscopic techniques i.e. fluorescence quenching, resonance light scattering and synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy. The analysis of fluorescence spectrum and fluorescence intensity indicates that the intrinsic fluorescence of bovine serum albumin (BSA) gets quenched by both static and dynamic quenching mechanism. The Stern‐Volmer quenching constants, energy transfer efficiency parameters, binding parameters and corresponding thermodynamic parameters (ΔH⁰, ΔS⁰ and ΔG⁰) have been evaluated by using van 't Hoff equation at different temperatures. A positive entropy change with a positive enthalpy change was observed suggesting that the binding process was an entropy‐driven, endothermic process associated with the hydrophobic effect. The intermolecular distance (r) between donor (BSA) and acceptor (CdSeS/ZnS quantum dots) was estimated according to Förster's theory of non‐radiative energy transfer. The synchronous fluorescence spectra revealed a blue shift in the emission maxima of tryptophan which is indicative of increasing hydrophobicity. Negative ΔG⁰ values implied that the binding process was spontaneous. It was found that hydrophobic forces played a role in the quenching process. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of triazole‐tryptophan hybrid on the conformation stability of bovine serum albumin

The effect of a potent antimicrobial compound bearing 1,2,3‐triazole core and a tryptophan tail, triazole‐tryptophan hybrid (TTH), with bovine serum albumin (BSA) have been explored using various spectroscopic and molecular docking methods. Studies revealed that TTH strongly quenches the intrinsic fluorophore of BSA by a static quenching mechanism. Time‐resolved fluorescence spectra further confirmed the involvement of static quenching for TTH–BSA system. The calculated thermodynamic parameters; ΔH, ΔS, and ΔG showed that the binding process was spontaneous, exothermic and entropy driven. Synchronous fluorescence, three‐dimensional (3D) fluorescence and circular dichroism data revealed that TTH induces the structural alteration in BSA and enhances its stability. In silico study of TTH–BSA system showed that it binds with BSA at the site I of subdomain IIA. Both the experimental and in silico study showed that the hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions play a major role in TTH–BSA binding.     

Static and dynamic quenching of protein fluorescence. I. Bovine serum albumin.

The fluorescence parameters, lifetime, relative quantum yield, maximum and mean wavelength, half-width, and polarization, of bovine serum albumin (BSA) were measured at 15°C in aqueous solutions containing varying concentrations of different chemical perturbants, glycerol, Cu²⁺ ions, guanidine hydrochloride, and urea. By considering a quenching mechanism as being either dynamic or static, depending upon whether the quenching is or is not accompanied by a change in the fluorescence lifetime, we were able to correlate the changes produced in the various fluorescence parameters by the different chemical perturbants with changes in macromolecular structure as the concentration of perturbant was gradually increased. The addition of glycerol and of Cu²⁺ ions indicated that in aqueous BSA both tryptophan residues are below the surface of the macromolecule, out of contact with solvent water, and, as a consequence, they are statically quenched. “Ultra-Pure” guanidine hydrochloride at 2.4 M or more caused a drastic conformation change, which resulted in the emergence of a visible tyrosine peak at 304 nm in the BSA fluorescence spectrum when either 260- or 270-nm excitation was employed. With the same excitation, the enhancement of BSA tyrosine fluorescence by 6–8 M ultra-pure urea produced only a shoulder near 304 nm in the BSA fluorescence spectrum. We have introduced the use of a new relative quantum yield for protein fluorescence, q′, referenced to the quantum yield of unquenched free tryptophan, which eliminates the quenching action of water from the reference.     

Development of an optical sensor for chlortetracycline detection based on the fluorescence quenching of l‐tryptophan

A simple and selective spectrofluorimetric method for the detection of chlortetracycline (CTC) was studied. In pH 7.4 buffer medium l ‐tryptophan (l ‐Trp), applied as the fluorescence probe, interacted with CTC resulting in fluorescence quenching of the probe. CTC was detected with maximum excitation and emission wavelengths at λ_ex/λ_em = 275/350 nm. Notably, quenching of fluorescence intensities was positively proportional to the CTC concentration over the range of 0.65–30 μmol L^?1 and the limit of detection was 0.2 μmol L^?1. Effect of temperature shown in Stern?Volmer plots, absorption spectra and fluorescence lifetime determination, indicated that fluorescence quenching of l ‐Trp by CTC was mainly by static quenching. The proposed study used practical samples analysis satisfactorily.     

Fluorescence modulation of 1,7‐bis(4‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxyphenyl)‐1,6‐heptadiene‐3,5‐dione by silver nanoparticles and its possible analytical application

The effects of silver nanoparticles on the photophysical properties of 1,7‐bis(4‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxyphenyl)‐1,6‐heptadiene‐3,5‐dione, popularly known as curcumin, have been investigated using optical absorption and fluorescence techniques. Although absorption spectroscopy suggests a ground‐state complex formation, fluorescence quenching data confirms a simultaneous static and dynamic quenching, inferring ground as well as excited‐state complex formation. The recovery of fluorescence quenching of the curcumin–silver nanoparticle complex in the presence of ascorbic acid or uric acid emphasizes a strong interaction between the silver nanoparticles and ascorbic acid/uric acid, suggesting that fluorescence recovery after the quenching of curcumin–silver nanoparticle complexes has potential for ascorbic acid or uric acid assay development. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Study of fluorescence interaction and conformational changes of bovine serum albumin with histamine H1‐receptor–drug epinastine hydrochloride by spectroscopic and time‐resolved fluorescence methods

The fluorescence, ultraviolet (UV) absorption, time resolved techniques, circular dichroism (CD), and infrared spectral methods were explored as tools to investigate the interaction between histamine H₁ drug, epinastine hydrochloride (EPN), and bovine serum albumin (BSA) under simulated physiological conditions. The experimental results showed that the quenching of the BSA by EPN was static quenching mechanism and also confirmed by lifetime measurements. The value of n close to unity indicated that one molecule of EPN was bound to protein molecule. The binding constants (K) at three different temperatures were calculated (7.1 × 10⁴, 5.5 × 10⁴, and 3.9 × 10⁴M⁻¹). Based on the thermodynamic parameters (ΔH⁰, ΔG⁰, and ΔS⁰), the nature of binding forces operating between drug and protein was proposed. The site of binding of EPN in the protein was proposed to be Sudlow's site I based on displacement experiments using site markers viz, warfarin, ibuprofen, and digitoxin. Based on the Förster's theory of non‐radiation energy transfer, the binding average distance, r between the donor (BSA) and acceptor (EPN) was evaluated and found to be 4.48 nm. The UV–visible, synchronous fluorescence, CD, and three‐dimensional fluorescence spectral results revealed the changes in secondary structure of the protein upon its interaction with EPN. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 103: 646–657, 2015.     

Effects of N‐Acetyl‐L‐Cysteine‐Capped CdTe Quantum Dots on Bovine Serum Albumin and Bovine Hemoglobin: Isothermal Titration Calorimetry and Spectroscopic Investigations

The interactions of N‐acetyl‐L‐cysteine‐capped CdTe quantum dots (QDs) with bovine serum albumin (BSA) and bovine hemoglobin (BHb) were investigated by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), fluorescence, synchronous fluorescence, fluorescence lifetime, ultraviolet–visible absorption, and circular dichroism techniques. Fluorescence data of BSA–QDs and BHb–QDs revealed that the quenching was static in every system. While CdTe QDs changed the microenvironment of tryptophan in BHb, the microenvironment of BSA kept unchanged. Adding CdTe QDs affected the skeleton and secondary structure of the protein (BSA and BHb). The ITC results indicated that the interaction between the protein (BSA and BHb) and QDs‐612 was spontaneous and the predominant force was hydrophobic interaction. In addition, the binding constants were determined to be 1.19 × 10⁵ L mol^?1 (BSA–QDs) and 2.19 × 10⁵ L mol^?1 (BHb–QDs) at 298 K. From these results, we conclude that CdTe QDs have a larger impact on the structure of BHb than BSA.     

Study of the interaction between sodium salts of (2E)‐3‐(4'‐halophenyl)prop‐2‐enoyl sulfachloropyrazine and bovine serum albumin by fluorescence spectroscopy

Three sodium salts of (2E)‐3‐(4'‐halophenyl)prop‐2‐enoyl sulfachloropyrazine (CCSCP) were synthesized and their structures were determined by ¹H and ¹³C NMR, LC‐MS and IR. The binding properties between CCSCPs and bovine serum albumin (BSA) were studied using fluorescence spectroscopy in combination with UV–vis absorbance spectroscopy. The results indicate that the fluorescence quenching mechanisms between BSA and CCSCPs were static quenching at low concentrations of CCSCPs or combined quenching (static and dynamic) at higher CCSCP concentrations of 298, 303 and 308 K. The binding constants, binding sites and corresponding thermodynamic parameters (ΔH, ΔS, ΔG) were calculated at different temperatures. All ΔG values were negative, which revealed that the binding processes were spontaneous. Although all CCSCPs had negative ΔH and positive ΔS, the contributions of ΔH and ΔS to ΔG values were different. When the 4'‐substituent was fluorine or chlorine, van der Waals interactions and hydrogen bonds were the main interaction forces. However, when the halogen was bromine, ionic interaction and proton transfer controlled the overall energetics. The binding distances between CCSCPs and BSA were determined using the Förster non‐radiation energy transfer theory and the effects of CCSCPs on the conformation of BSA were analyzed by synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and interaction of bovine serum albumin with p‐hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives

Three novel p‐hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives (HSOP, HSOX, HSCP) were synthesized from p‐hydroxybenzoic acid and sulfonamides (sulfamonomethoxine sodium, sulfamethoxazole and sulfachloropyridazine sodium) and characterized by elemental analysis, HNMR and MS. Interactions between derivatives and bovine serum albumin (BSA) were studied by fluorescence quenching spectra, UV–vis absorption spectra and time‐resolved fluorescence spectra. Based on fluorescence quenching calculation and Förster's non‐radioactive energy transfer theory, the values of the binding constants, basic thermodynamic parameters and binding distances were obtained. Experimental results indicated that the three derivatives had a strong ability to quench fluorescence from BSA and that the binding reactions of the derivatives with BSA were a static quenching process. Thermodynamic parameters showed that binding reactions were spontaneous and exothermic and hydrogen bond and van der Waals force were predominant intermolecular forces between the derivatives and BSA. Synchronous fluorescence spectra suggested that HSOX and HSCP had little effect on the microenvironment and conformation of BSA in the binding reactions but the microenvironments around tyrosine residues were disturbed and polarity around tyrosine residues increased in the presence of HSOP. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fluorescence spectroscopic studies on the interaction of Gemini surfactant 14‐6‐14 with bovine serum albumin

The interaction of the cationic Gemini surfactant hexamethylene‐1,3‐bis (tetradecyldimethylammonium bromide) (14‐6‐14) with bovine serum albumin (BSA) has been investigated by fluorescence quenching spectra and three‐dimensional (3D) fluorescence spectra. The Stern–Volmer quenching constants K_SV and the corresponding thermodynamic parameters ΔH, ΔG and ΔS have been estimated by the fluorescence quenching method. The results indicated that hydrophobic forces were the predominant intermolecular forces between BSA and the surfactant. Competitive experiments and the number of binding sites calculation show that 14‐6‐14 can be inserted in site‐II (in subdomain IIIA) of BSA. The effect of 14‐6‐14 on the conformation of BSA was evaluated by synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy and 3D fluorescence spectral methods. The results show that the conformation of BSA was changed dramatically in the presence of 14‐6‐14, by binding to the Trp and Try residues of BSA. The investigation provides interaction between BSA and 14‐6‐14 as a model for molecular design and industrial research. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Spectroscopic and molecular modelling analysis of the interaction between ethane‐1,2‐diyl bis(N,N‐dimethyl‐N‐hexadecylammoniumacetoxy)dichloride and bovine serum albumin

Several spectroscopic approaches namely fluorescence, time‐resolved fluorescence, UV‐visible, and Fourier transform infra‐red (FT‐IR) spectroscopy were employed to examine the interaction between ethane‐1,2‐diyl bis(N,N‐dimethyl‐N‐hexadecylammoniumacetoxy)dichloride (16‐E2‐16) and bovine serum albumin (BSA). Fluorescence studies revealed that 16‐E2‐16 quenched the BSA fluorescence through a static quenching mechanism, which was further confirmed by UV–visible and time‐resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. In addition, the binding constant and the number of binding sites were also calculated. The thermodynamic parameters at different temperatures (298 K, 303 K, 308 K and 313 K) indicated that 16‐E2‐16 binding to BSA is entropy driven and that the major driving forces are electrostatic interactions. Decrease of the α‐helix from 53.90 to 46.20% with an increase in random structure from 22.56 to 30.61% were also observed by FT‐IR. Furthermore, the molecular docking results revealed that 16‐E2‐16 binds predominantly by electrostatic and hydrophobic forces to some residues in the BSA sub‐domains IIA and IIIA. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Resolution of the fluorescence equilibrium unfolding profile of trp aporepressor using single tryptophan mutants.

Single tryptophan mutants of the trp aporepressor, tryptophan 19-->phenylalanine (W19F) and tryptophan 99-->phenylalanine (W99F), were used in this study to resolve the individual steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence urea unfolding profiles of the two tryptophan residues in this highly intertwined, dimeric protein. The wild-type protein exhibits a large increase in fluorescence intensity and lifetime, as well as a large red shift in the steady-state fluorescence emission spectrum, upon unfolding by urea (Lane, A.N. & Jardetsky, O., 1987, Eur. J. Biochem. 164, 389-396; Gittelman, M.S. & Matthews, C.R., 1990, Biochemistry 29, 7011-7020; Fernando, T. & Royer, C.A., 1992, Biochemistry 31, 6683-6691). Unfolding of the W19F mutant demonstrated that Trp 99 undergoes a large increase in intensity and a red shift upon exposure to solvent. Lifetime studies revealed that the contribution of the dominant 0.5-ns component of this tryptophan tends toward zero with increasing urea, whereas the longer lifetime components increase in importance. This lifting of the quenching of Trp 99 may be due to disruption of the interaction between the two subunits upon denaturation, which abolishes the interaction of Trp 99 on one subunit with the amide quenching group of Asn 32 on the other subunit (Royer, C.A., 1992, Biophys. J. 63, 741-750). On the other hand, Trp 19 is quenched in response to unfolding in the W99F mutant. Exposure to solvent of Trp 19, which is buried at the hydrophobic dimer interface in the native protein, results in a large red shift of the average steady-state emission.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Study on the interaction between anti‐tuberculosis drug ethambutol and bovine serum albumin: multispectroscopic and cyclic voltammetric approaches

The binding of bovine serum albumin (BSA) to ethambutol (EMB) was investigated using spectroscopic methods, viz., fluorescence, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), ultraviolet (UV)/vis absorption and cyclic voltammetry techniques. Spectroscopic analysis of the emission quenching at different temperatures revealed that the quenching mechanism of serum albumin by EMB is static, which was also confirmed by lifetime measurements. The number of binding sites, n, and binding constant, K, were obtained at various temperatures. The distance, r, between EMB and the protein was evaluated according to the Förster energy transfer theory. Based on displacement experiments using site probes, viz., warfarin, ibuprofen and digitoxin, the site of binding of EMB in BSA was proposed to be Sudlow's site I. The effect of EMB on the conformation of BSA was analyzed by using synchronous fluorescence spectra (SFS) and 3D fluorescence spectra. The results of fluorescence, UV/vis absorption and FTIR spectra showed that the conformation of BSA was changed in the presence of EMB. The thermodynamic parameters including enthalpy change (ΔH⁰), entropy change (ΔS⁰) and free energy change (ΔG⁰) for BSA–EMB were calculated according to the van't Hoff equation and are discussed.     

Conformational changes in pennisetin using intrinsic fluorescence spectroscopy

Fluorescence spectra of native pennisetin resulted in a single emission peak at 335 nm at excitation wavelength of 274 and 295 nm with quantum yield values for tyrosine and tryptophan as 0.086 and 0.097, respectively. These results indicate the presence of tryptophan residues in a polar environment and quenching of tyrosine residues in the native state of pennisetin. In the presence of an increasing concentration of guanidine hydrochloride (Gdn · HCl), changes such as red shift in emission peak from 335 to 344 nm, decrease in relative fluorescence intensity and increase in quantum yield value were observed, suggesting unfolding of the pennisetin molecule during denaturation. The quenching of tryptophanyl fluorescence by acrylamide and iodide further showed the presence of a single kind of tryptophanyl residue and its polar environment in pennisetin molecule.     

Silver‐doped graphite carbon nitride nanosheets as fluorescent probe for the detection of curcumin

Green fluorescent silver (Ag)‐doped graphite carbon nitride (Ag‐g‐C₃N₄) nanosheets have been fabricated by an ultrasonic exfoliating method. The fluorescence of the Ag‐g‐C₃N₄ nanosheets is quenched by curcumin. The fluorescence intensity decreases with the increase in the concentration of curcumin, indicating that the Ag‐g‐C₃N₄ nanosheets can function as a non‐toxic and facile fluorescence probe to detect curcumin. The fluorescence intensity of Ag‐g‐C₃N₄ nanosheets shows a linear relationship to curcumin in the concentration range 0.01–2.00 μM with a low detection limit of 38 nM. The fluorescence quenching process between curcumin and Ag‐g‐C₃N₄ nanosheets mainly is based on static quenching. The fluorescent probe has been successfully applied to analyse curcumin in human urine and serum samples with satisfactory results.     

Rapid determination of benzo[a]pyrene by membrane enrichment coupled with solid‐phase constant‐wavelength synchronous fluorescence spectrometry

Normal methods for benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) determination, including gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection, involve expensive instruments and complex separation and purification processes. Based on membrane enrichment, coupled with solid‐phase constant‐wavelength synchronous fluorescence spectrometry, a simple, fast, sensitive method was proposed for the determination of BaP in water samples. A Nylon membrane was used as the solid‐phase extraction material for enrichment. After enrichment, a constant‐wavelength synchronous fluorescence spectrum was scanned directly on the membrane‐concentrated BaP without elution. Spectral measurement and enrichment conditions were optimized. Under optimum conditions, when using 150 mL sample solutions, the relationship between fluorescence intensity and BaP concentrations in the 0.05–10.00 μg L^–1 range could be fitted by binomial function with an R² value of 0.9973. Limit of detection (LOD) was calculated to be 0.0137 μg L^–1. The volume of the sample solution was increased to 1000 mL to test if the method could be applied to determine lower BaP concentrations. A linear relationship still existed in the range 2.0–20.0 ng L^–1 BaP with an R² value of 0.9895, and a LOD of 2.4 ng L^–1. The method was also used to measure the BaP concentration in several natural water samples, and recoveries were in the 90–110% range with relative standard deviations (RSDs) in the 0.58–7.93% range. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Tryptophan fluorescence studies of plasma fibronectin: effects of environmental factors

Steady state fluorescence measurements have been used to study tryptophan fluorescence of plasma fibronectin. The native protein has an emission maximum at 337 nm with a quantum yield of 0.03. A red shift of emission maximum was observed in 3–5M urea and a further red shift in 7–8M urea. The emission maximum shifted from 337 to 345 nm when the temperature was changed from 30 to 80°C, with a midpoint of thermal denaturation at 58°C. Similarly, the emission maximum shifted from 337 to 345 nm when the solution pH was increased from 9 to 12, with a midpoint of pH transition at 10.6. The results obtained from difference absorption spectroscopy studies suggest that the unfolding of fibronectin at alkaline pH is related at least in part to ionization of tyrosine residues. Since most of the tryptophan residues are in invariant positions in homology sequences, it is suggested here that tryptophan residues are useful intrinsic probes for elucidating fibronectin structure in solution.     

Study on the interactions of mapenterol with serum albumins using multi‐spectroscopy and molecular docking

The interactions of mapenterol with bovine serum albumin (BSA) and human serum albumin (HSA) have been investigated systematically using fluorescence spectroscopy, absorption spectroscopy, circular dichroism (CD) and molecular docking techniques. Mapenterol has a strong ability to quench the intrinsic fluorescence of BSA and HSA through static quenching procedures. At 291 K, the binding constants, K_a, were 1.93 × 10³ and 2.73 × 10³ L/mol for mapenterol–BSA and mapenterol–HAS, respectively. Electrostatic forces and hydrophobic interactions played important roles in stabilizing the mapenterol–BSA/has complex. Using site marker competitive studies, mapenterol was found to bind at Sudlow site I on BSA/HSA. There was little effect of K⁺, Ca²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺ and Fe³⁺ on the binding. The conformation of BSA/HSA was changed by mapenterol, as seen from the synchronous fluorescence spectra. The CD spectra showed that the binding of mapenterol to BSA/HSA changed the secondary structure of BSA/HSA. Molecular docking further confirmed that mapenterol could bind to Sudlow site I of BSA/HSA. According to Förster non‐radiative energy transfer theory (FRET), the distances r₀ between the donor and acceptor were calculated as 3.18 and 2.75 nm for mapenterol–BSA and mapenterol–HAS, respectively. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Investigation on the effect of fluorescence quenching of bovine serum albumin by cefoxitin sodium using fluorescence spectroscopy and synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy

The reaction mechanism of cefoxitin sodium with bovine serum albumin was investigated using fluorescence spectroscopy and synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy at different temperatures. The results showed that the change of binding constant of the synchronous fluorescence method with increasing temperature could be used to estimate the types of quenching mechanisms of drugs with protein and was consistent with one of fluorescence quenching method. In addition, the number of binding sites, type of interaction force, cooperativity between drug and protein and energy‐transfer parameters of cefoxitin sodium and bovine serum albumin obtained from two methods using the same equation were consistent. Electrostatic force played a major role in the conjugation reaction between bovine serum albumin and cefoxitin sodium, and the type of quenching was static quenching. The primary binding site for cefoxitin sodium was sub‐hydrophobic domain IIA, and the number of binding sites was 1. The value of Hill's coefficients (n_H) was approximately equal to 1, which suggested no cooperativity in the bovine serum albumin–cefoxitin sodium system. The donor‐to‐acceptor distance r < 7 nm indicated that static fluorescence quenching of bovine serum albumin by cefoxitin sodium was also a non‐radiation energy‐transfer process. The results indicated that synchronous fluorescence spectrometry could be used to study the reaction mechanism between drug and protein, and was a useful supplement to the conventional method. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Comprehensive study of interaction between biocompatible PEG‐InP/ZnS QDs and bovine serum albumin

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) surface modified biocompatible InP/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) act as a potential alternative for conventional carcinogenic cadmium‐based quantum dots for in vivo and in vitro studies. Comprehensively, we studied the interaction between a model protein bovine serum albumin (BSA) and PEGylated toxic free InP/ZnS QDs using various spectroscopic tools such as absorption, fluorescence quenching, time resolved and synchronous fluorescence spectroscopic measurements. These studies principally show that tryptophan (Trp) residues of BSA have preferable binding affinity towards PEG‐InP/ZnS QDs surface and a blue shift in Trp fluorescence emission is a signature of conformational changes in its hydrophobic microenvironment. Photoluminescence (PL) intensity of Trp is quenched by ground state complex formation (static quenching) at room temperature. However, InP/ZnS@BSA conjugates become unstable with increasing temperature and PL intensity of Trp is quenched via dynamic quenching by PEG‐InP/ZnS QDs. Experimentally determined thermodynamic parameters for these conjugates have shown spontaneity, entropy driven and exothermic nature of bio‐conjugation. The calculated binding affinity (n ? 1, Hill coefficient) suggest that the affinity of InP/ZnS QDs for a BSA protein is not dependent on whether or not other BSA proteins are already bound to the QD surface. Energy transfer efficiency (E), Trp residue to InP/ZnS QDs distances and energy transfer rate (k_T) were all obtained from FÖrster resonance energy.