Simple Sol-Gel Protein Stabilization toward Rainbow and White Lighting Devices

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biotechnology
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Fluorescent proteins (FPs) are promising sustainable materials for photonics and optoelectronics.
• Stabilizing FPs for non-physiological environments and harsh conditions remains a significant challenge.
• Traditional sol-gel methods for FP stabilization are often complex, harsh, and less versatile.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a simplified, versatile, and effective method for stabilizing fluorescent proteins (FPs) using sol-gel chemistry.
• To create stable, mesoporous FP@SiO2 nanoparticles with preserved photoluminescence.
• To demonstrate the application of these stabilized FPs in bio-hybrid light-emitting diodes.

Main Methods:

• A one-pot, surfactant-free sol-gel method in aqueous media (PBS, pH 7.4) was employed.
• Direct reaction between FP carboxylic groups and silica precursors formed FP@SiO2 nanoparticles.
• FP@SiO2 nanoparticles were synthesized as single-emissive (green/red) and dual-emissive components.

Main Results:

• Mesoporous FP@SiO2 nanoparticles were successfully synthesized with controlled sizes.
• The photoluminescence of FPs was unaffected, and enhanced stability (>6 months) was achieved under dry storage and in organic solvents.
• FP@SiO2 color filters in bio-hybrid LEDs showed up to 15-fold enhanced stability without reduced luminous efficacy.

Conclusions:

• A facile and versatile sol-gel method enables the creation of highly stable FP@SiO2 nanoparticles.
• This approach overcomes limitations of traditional methods, offering a sustainable pathway for protein-based lighting.
• The developed FP@SiO2 nanoparticles show great potential for advanced optoelectronic applications.