Label-free fluorescence detection of mercury(II) and glutathione based on Hg2+-DNA complexes stimulating aggregation-induced emission of a tetraphenylethene derivative.
Herein, a sensitive and selective sensor for mercury(II) and glutathione based on the aggregation-induced emission (AIE) of a tetraphenylethene derivative stimulated by Hg(2+)-DNA complexes is reported. Aggregation complexes of AIE probes, quaternized tetraphenylethene salt and anti-Hg(2+) aptamer ssDNA, were formed based on the electrostatic interactions between the ammonium cation of AIE probes and the backbone phosphate anions of DNA. In the presence of target Hg(2+), the aptamer ssDNA with thymine (T)-rich sequences selectively bound with Hg(2+) to form an Hg(2+)-bridged T base pair and the ssDNA changed into a hairpin-like structure. Therefore the AIE probing molecules were brought to be positioned closer. Accordingly, the conformational change of aptamer ssDNA resulted in an obvious enhancement in the fluorescence of the probing complex enabling the sensitive and selective detection of Hg(2+). Furthermore, upon reaction of Hg(2+) with biothiols, the compact structure was destroyed and the fluorescence decreased consequently. Sensitive detection of GSH was realised based on the decrease of fluorescence of the probing complex. The target-aptamer complexes stimulating aggregation-induced emission therefore show great promise for environmental and biological process monitoring and disease diagnosis.
Xu
Jian-Ping
JP
MOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China.
Song
Zhe-Gang
ZG
Fang
Yuan
Y
Mei
Ju
J
Jia
Lan
L
Qin
An Jun
AJ
Sun
Jing Zhi
JZ
Ji
Jian
J
Tang
Ben Zhong
BZ
D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide / Q000737:chemistry; D015374:Biosensing Techniques; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded / Q000737:chemistry*; D005453:Fluorescence; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000032:analysis*; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis*; D015394:Molecular Structure; D013267:Stilbenes / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*
D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D013267:Stilbenes; D008628:Mercury; D005978:Glutathione