Label-free luminescent oligonucleotide-based probes.
Breakthrough advances in chemistry and biology over the last two decades have vastly expanded the repertoire of nucleic acid structure and function with potential application in multiple areas of science and technology, including sensing and analytical applications. DNA oligonucleotides represent popular tools for the development of sensing platforms due to their low cost, rich structural polymorphism, and their ability to bind to cognate ligands with sensitivity and specificity rivaling those for protein enzymes and antibodies. In this review, we give an overview of the "label-free" approach that has been a particular focus of our group and others for the construction of luminescent DNA-based sensing platforms. The label-free strategy aims to overcome some of the drawbacks associated with the use of covalently-labeled oligonucleotides prevalent in electrochemical and optical platforms. Label-free DNA-based probes harness the selective interaction between luminescent dyes and functional oligonucleotides that exhibit a "structure-switching" response upon binding to analytes. Based on the numerous examples of label-free luminescent DNA-based probes reported recently, we envisage that this field would continue to thrive and mature in the years to come.
Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, China. edmondma@hkbu.edu.hk
Dik-Lung
DL
Ma
Hong-Zhang
HZ
He
Ka-Ho
KH
Leung
Hai-Jing
HJ
Zhong
Daniel Shiu-Hin
DS
Chan
Chung-Hang
CH
Leung
D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D015374:Biosensing Techniques; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D003851:Deoxyribonucleases / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D049408:Luminescent Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D012260:Ribonucleases / Q000378:metabolism
D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide; D049408:Luminescent Agents; D008670:Metals; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D004247:DNA; D003851:Deoxyribonucleases; D012260:Ribonucleases