The structural shift of a DNA template between a hairpin and a dimer tunes the emission color of DNA-templated AgNCs

• Published in: Nanoscale Vol. 10; no. 44; pp. 20717 - 20722
• Main Authors: Shah, Pratik, Choi, Suk Won, Nagda, Riddhi, Geczy, Reka, Cho, Seok Keun, Bhang, Yong Joo, Kim, Tae-Hwan, Song, Tae Yang, Lee, Phil Hyu, Kang, Ju-Hee, Thulstrup, Peter Waaben, Bjerrum, Morten Jannik, Jung, Il Lae, Yang, Seong Wook
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Royal Society of Chemistry 15.11.2018
• Subjects: Base Sequence; Biosensing Techniques; Color; Deoxyribonucleic acid; Dimerization; Dimers; DNA; DNA - chemistry; Emission; Fluorescence; Metal Nanoparticles - chemistry; MicroRNAs - analysis; Nucleic Acid Conformation; Scaffolding; Silver - chemistry; Spectrometry, Fluorescence; Target detection
• ISSN: 2040-3364; 2040-3372
• DOI: 10.1039/c8nr06186f

The scaffolding DNA sequence and the size of silver nanoclusters (AgNCs), confined in a DNA template are the key parameters in determining the fluorescent properties of DNA-stabilized silver nanoclusters (DNA/AgNCs). In addition, we suggest here that the structural shift of a DNA hairpin-dimer is as important as the DNA sequence in determining the emission wavelength of DNA/AgNCs. Furthermore, we show that the structural shift post AgNC formation can be triggered by incubation time and pre-AgNC formation under salt conditions. As an important factor in predicting the emission properties of DNA/AgNCs, the modulation of DNA secondary structures with either sequence changes or ionic conditions can be applied for the dual-color detection system of a target molecule. Particularly, the dual-color detection method may increase the reliability of DNA/AgNC sensors for miRNAs.