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Stimulus-Responsive Four-Stranded DNA Nanoring Assembly to Host Multiple Nanosilver Clusters for Cooperatively
Xinyue Jia1, Jiayang He1, Mengdie Li1
1Key Laboratory of Luminescence Analysis and Molecular Sensing (Southwest University), Ministry of Education; Chongqing Engineering Laboratory of Nanomaterials & Sensor Technologies; School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, PR China.
This study introduces a novel DNA nanoring capable of hosting nanosilver clusters for enhanced fluorescence biosensing. This method offers a sensitive, label-free detection of specific initiators with improved signal amplification.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Nanotechnology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Four-stranded DNA nanorings (fsDNRs) offer unique structural properties for nanoscale applications.
- Nanosilver clusters (NAgCs) are valuable for fluorescence-based detection due to their optical properties.
- Developing efficient and sensitive biosensing platforms remains a key challenge in molecular diagnostics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the potential of fsDNRs in hosting multiple NAgCs for amplified fluorescence biosensing.
- To develop a novel, label-free biosensing strategy for detecting a specific initiator (tI*).
- To investigate the cooperative amplification of fluorescence signals through the fsDNR-NAgC system.
Main Methods:
- Design and synthesis of a functional fsDNR using DNA single strands and stem-loop hairpins.
- Programming a substrate strand (SS) with specific modules for initiator recognition and NAgC template formation.
- Utilizing a cascade hybridization and self-assembly pathway for fsDNR formation and NAgC synthesis.
- Employing fluorescence spectroscopy to monitor and quantify the amplified signal.
Main Results:
- Successful construction of fsDNRs capable of hosting multiple NAgCs.
- Demonstrated cooperative amplification of green fluorescence signals upon binding of the specific initiator (tI*).
- Achieved sensitive and label-free detection of tI* with high on-off contrast.
- Established that the fsDNR topological conformation is stabilized by the NAgC adducts.
Conclusions:
- The developed fsDNR-NAgC system provides a robust and efficient platform for fluorescence biosensing.
- This label-free strategy offers simplicity, rapidity, and high sensitivity without complex nucleic acid amplification.
- The findings highlight the potential of DNA nanostructures in creating advanced biosensing applications.
