Fluorescent Silver Nanoclusters Associated with Double-Stranded Poly(dGdC) DNA

Here, we demonstrate through AFM imaging and CD spectroscopy that the binding of silver ions (Ag⁺) to poly(dGdC), a double-stranded (ds) DNA composed of two identical repeating strands, at a stoichiometry of one Ag⁺ per GC base pair induces a one-base shift of one strand relative to the other. This results in a ds nucleic acid-Ag⁺ conjugate consisting of alternating CC and GG base pairs coordinated by silver ions. The proposed organization of the conjugate is supported by the results of our Quantum Mechanical (QM) and Molecular Mechanics (MMs) calculations. The reduction of Ag⁺ ions followed by the partial oxidation of silver atoms yields a highly fluorescent conjugate emitting at 720 nm. This fluorescent behavior in conjugates of long, repetitive ds DNA (thousands of base pairs) with silver has never been demonstrated before. We propose that the poly(dGdC)-Ag conjugate functions as a dynamic system, comprising various small clusters embedded within the DNA and interacting with one another through energy transfer. This hypothesis is supported by the results of our QM and MMs calculations. Additionally, these DNA-silver conjugates, comprising silver nanoclusters, may possess conductive properties, making them potential candidates for use as nanowires in nanodevices and nanosensors.