Quantum dots decorated with pathogen associated molecular patterns as fluorescent synthetic pathogen models

We attached the pathogen associated molecular pattern Kdo(2)-Lipid A (the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Escherichia coli (E. coli)) to QDs by hydrophobic interactions to synthetically mimic the surface of E. coli. QD-LPS conjugates bind, are taken up and activate effectively macrophages in vitro and they have potent immunostimulatory activity in vivo.