Temporal Control of Fluorescent EuW₁₀ Aggregates for Autonomous DNA Capture and Information Encryption

Self-assembly exploits noncovalent interaction to offer an effective method for the fabrication of materials. For Na₉ [EuW₁₀ O₃₆ ] ⋅ 32H₂ O (EuW₁₀ ), the negative charges and abundant oxygen atoms on its surface provide a handle for static self-assembly. New properties are envisioned for EuW₁₀ aggregates which are able to display such kinetics and time-programming characteristics, in order to satisfy more complex and intelligent application scenarios, such as DNA binding and information encryption. In this work, EuW₁₀ coupling with stimuli-responsive dodecyl dimethylamine oxide (C₁₂ DMAO) can generate versatile aggregates with pH-responsive properties. We demonstrated the temporal programming of the assembly and disassembly of EuW₁₀ nanospheres using a pH clock reaction of acid/urease hydrolysis. The pH clock reaction endows EuW₁₀ assemblies with dynamical properties, in which the charges and fluorescence changes are coded in this system. These fluorescent assemblies provide new application in time-programmed DNA capture and information encryption.