articleNano LettersJul 19, 2010Closed access

A DNA−Silver Nanocluster Probe That Fluoresces upon Hybridization

Los Alamos National Laboratory · Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies

PubMed
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Abstract

DNA-templated silver nanoclusters (DNA/Ag NCs) are an emerging set of fluorophores that are smaller than semiconductor quantum dots and can have better photostability and brightness than commonly used organic dyes. Here we find the red fluorescence of DNA/Ag NCs can be enhanced 500-fold when placed in proximity to guanine-rich DNA sequences. On the basis of this new phenomenon, we have designed a DNA detection probe (NanoCluster Beacon, NCB) that "lights up" upon target binding. Since NCBs do not rely on Forster energy transfer for quenching, they can easily reach high (>100) signal-to-background ratios (S/B ratios) upon target binding. Here, in a separation-free assay, we demonstrate NCB detection of an…

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