Fluorescence-based detection of hypochlorous acid using catalytic hairpin assembly and G-quadruplex

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Analytical Chemistry
• Immunology

Background:

• Hypochlorous acid (HClO) is a vital reactive oxygen species (ROS) involved in innate immunity and homeostasis.
• Aberrant HClO levels are linked to diseases like ulcerative colitis and atherosclerosis.
• Accurate detection of HClO is crucial for understanding its role in health and disease.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a highly sensitive and specific quantitative analytical method for accurate HClO detection.
• To utilize fluorescence enhancement via G-quadruplex-ThT binding and catalytic hairpin assembly for signal amplification.

Main Methods:

• Development of a novel analytical method for HClO quantification.
• Employing G-quadruplex-ThT binding for fluorescence enhancement.
• Utilizing catalytic hairpin assembly for signal amplification.

Main Results:

• Achieved a dynamic range of 0.01 to 1 μM for HClO detection.
• Established a detection limit of 9.423 nM under optimized conditions.
• Successfully quantified HClO in diverse real-world samples, including tap water, human serum, and cell lysates.

Conclusions:

• The developed method offers high sensitivity and specificity for HClO detection.
• The technique shows significant potential for applications in disease diagnosis and monitoring.
• This advancement facilitates further research into HClO's role in physiological and pathological processes.