Colloidal Quantum Dots as Photosensitizers. We introduce a system for producing ammonia by integrating QDs within bacteria and applying light irradiation to the QD-A. vinelandii hybrids, as shown in Fig. 1a. Harnessing QDs as photosensitizers in photochemical reactions requires the design and synthesis of QDs with facile charge extraction capabilities. In this research, core-shell structured QDs were engineered with water-dispersible ligands for efficient interaction in a whole cell system. InP core QDs were uniformly synthesized using the heat-up method. The synthesis of ZnSe shells via the successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method resulted in a quasi-type II bandgap structure in the core-shell QDs [30,35,36,38]. Furthermore, the oleic acid ligands on the surface of the QDs were replaced with mercaptopropionic acid to improve their dispersion and reactivity of QDs in aqueous solutions. The absorption and photoluminescence spectra of the InP/ZnSe core-shell QDs, as depicted in Fig. 1b, explain the optical properties of QDs. Notably, the 1S peak wavelength of the InP core, detailed in Fig. S3, is observed at 460 nm, indicating a bandgap energy of approximately 2.70 eV for the core QDs. An increase in shell thickness leads to a decrease in the quantum confinement effect and lowers the energy level at the conduction band edge. This increase in shell synthesis leads to the formation of the quasi-type II bandgap alignment, a critical feature designed to improve electron extraction capabilities significantly [39]. The characterization of these QDs reveals their distinct sizes as visually confirmed by the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) image in Fig. 1c.
Influence of Light Sources on Cell Viability. Ammonia production efficiency under a 400 nm light source reached saturation after 6 hours. This outcome indicates limited ammonia productivity under 400 nm light, hypothesized to result from cellular damage. 400 nm light sources, known to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) within cells, potentially compromise cellular viability [40-42]. To address these challenges and enhance the overall efficiency of the hybrid system, experiments utilized white light, chosen for its high light absorption capabilities of QDs and optimized wavelength to minimize cellular damage.
Ammonia production under white light irradiation continued to increase and this demonstrated an extended productive phase compared to 400 nm light conditions (Fig. 2a). Unlike the results obtained with 400 nm light exposure where ammonia production reached saturation at 6 hours, the QD-A. vinelandii hybrid cells exposed to white light demonstrate a continuous increase in ammonia production for up to 12 hours. In Fig. 2b, the number of viable cells over time during the ammonia production reaction is shown, with data comparing the effects of various light sources on cell density. Notably, a significant decline in cell viability under 400 nm light was observed around the 4-hour mark, in contrast to cells maintained in dark. In comparison, bacteria exposed to white light resulted in a substantially higher survival rate than the case of 400 nm light irradiation. This condition effectively delayed the saturation of ammonia production. Nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) was employed to compare the amount of generated ROS in QD-A. vinelandii cells. The NBT assay allows comparison of ROS levels by observing changes in absorbance at 560 nm. These changes result from the formation of reduced form of NBT, known as NBT formazan [43,44]. Under all conditions, ROS generation was detectable with or without QDs. Cells exposed to 400 nm light showed higher ROS generation than those under dark or white light conditions (Fig. 2c). This result supports the previous assumption that the elevated levels of cellular ROS production under 400 nm light could inflict damage on the cells.
Furthermore, an investigation was conducted on the ammonia synthesis by bacteria under illumination in the absence of QDs, to ascertain that the observed enhancement in production stemmed from photoexcited charges elicited by the QDs, rather than from mere light exposure (Fig. S4). The experiments resulted in no increase in ammonia production when only light was applied, indicating that the enhancement in ammonia production is directly or indirectly attributed to the photoexcited charges generated by the QDs.
Effect of Growth Medium and Nutrients on Ammonia Production. In ongoing experimental investigations, the ammonia synthesis system of dispersed hybrid cells in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) was conducted after removing the nutrient media. Ammonia production was not observed under conditions of nutrient-rich media. This observation leads to the hypothesis that bacteria, when provided with ample nutrients, preferentially engage in metabolic activities related to biomass formation. The research focused on assessing the roles of sucrose and magnesium (Mg) in the ammonia production efficiency of QD-A. vinelandii hybrids. Sucrose serves as the primary carbon source for cellular growth and energy production. Mg is essential for enzyme activation, maintaining cellular and genetic integrity, and efficient nitrogen fixation [45].
Adding carbon resources to the PBS buffer did not enhance ammonia production. This suggests that providing carbon is insufficient to stimulate ammonia synthesis in the hybrid cells (Fig. 3a). Conversely, Fig. 3b shows that removing sucrose from Burk's medium resulted in increased ammonia productivity. This indicates that sucrose supply can influence metabolic shifts within the cells. Under conditions rich in nutrients, bacteria appear to prioritize biomass formation (Fig. S5). This process leads to the continuous utilization and subsequent depletion of any ammonia produced, making it nearly undetectable. In contrast, under PBS conditions with limited essential carbon sources, bacteria shift their metabolic focus, preventing biomass formation and enabling ammonium ion accumulation. The absence of sucrose might mitigate a competitive metabolic pathway, thereby enhancing the efficiency of ammonia synthesis. These observations highlight the importance of a delicate balance between nutrient availability and metabolic activity for the optimization of the QD-A. vinelandii hybrid system for ammonia production. Further experimentation involved subjecting a series of hybrid cell cultures to a single feeding of sucrose at different reaction times for up to 12 hours. The results shown in Fig. S6 revealed that cells supplemented with sucrose early in the reaction period produced the least ammonia. Conversely, samples fed sucrose at later stages, particularly at 9 hours, demonstrated increased ammonia production, closely rivaling that of cultures without any sucrose feeding. This emphasizes the importance of balanced nutrient management in optimizing the QD-A. vinelandii hybrid system for efficient ammonia synthesis.
Further analysis on the effect of Mg supplementation or its removal showed that ammonia productivity remained consistent. This suggests that Mg does not significantly influence ammonia production in the QD-A. vinelandii hybrid system. As shown in Fig. 3c, this observation highlights the pivotal contribution of QDs, possibly via photoinduced charge transfers, in the ammonia synthesis process, surpassing traditional nutrient factors such as Mg. The minimal impact of Mg on ammonia production indirectly validates the critical contribution of QDs to the system. Their important roles in enhancing ammonia synthesis efficiency are paramount.
One-Pot Synthesis of Ammonia Using QD-A. vinelandii Hybrid. Despite sucrose's ability to promote bacterial proliferation, our insights reveal that removing sucrose establishes optimal conditions for enhanced ammonia synthesis. Building on these insights, we proposed a separated process comprising a cultivation step conducted in dark conditions—allowing QD-A. vinelandii to sufficiently internalize and grow while depleting sucrose in the culture medium—and a subsequent production step induced by light exposure to generate ammonia. The overview of this two-step process is depicted in Fig. 4a.
Furthermore, appropriate dissolved oxygen levels were crucial for the fermentation of A. vinelandii, an aerobic bacterium with enzymes that are active under anaerobic conditions. The anaerobic bacteria require a balanced air supply for optimal growth and ammonia production. In experiments comparing bacterial growth across DO levels from 10-40%, we observed that a controlled DO level at 10% (Fig. 4b) facilitated the conditions needed for both biomass formation and efficient ammonia synthesis. This adjustment in oxygen levels reflects a strategic approach to optimizing the conditions for ammonia production without compromising bacterial growth.
In the conducted fermentation experiments, an elevated level of ammonia production was observed through the QD-A. vinelandii hybrid system, as shown in Fig. 4c. A. vinelandii cultured in a nutrient medium containing QDs and sucrose under dark conditions, exhibited growth with an OD600 value of approximately 23, which corresponds to 3.71 g/L of dry cell weight (DCW). Subsequently, the sucrose in the culture medium was completely depleted and light irradiation was started to stimulate ammonia production. The amount of ammonia produced reached approximately 7.8 mg/L for a 45-hour reaction period, significantly surpassing the turnover frequency (TOF) of enzymes responsible for ammonia generation within conventional nitrogenase in nitrogen-fixing bacteria. The TOF, calculated by dividing the moles of synthesized ammonia per time by the moles of MoFe protein, showed our hybrid system's TOF value to be an impressive 11.96 s-1, with the moles of MoFe protein per DCW approximated to 9.02 × 10-11 (Fig. 4d and Supplementary Note 2). This demonstrates a remarkable difference in ammonia productivity by over sixfold compared to conditions using purified MoFe proteins with the presence of Fe proteins and ATPs [21]. Specifically, the fermentation of the QD-A. vinelandii hybrid system resulted in ammonia production with a titer of 7.81 mg/L, a yield of 7.41 mmol/mol, and a productivity of 0.174 mg/L/h. Our approach has led to significant advancements and efficiency in ammonia synthesis. It highlights the potential of the QD-A. vinelandii hybrid system for enhancing bioengineering applications.