title: Ultrasensitive SERS detection of mercury based on the assembled gold nanochains.
abstract: Mercuric ions (Hg(2+)) mediate the transformation of single-stranded DNA to form double helical DNA by T-Hg(2+)-T interaction between base pairs. With this strategy, DNA modified gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) were assembled into chains which were displayed remarkable surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) signal. Under optimized conditions, the length of gold nanochains was directly proportional to the mercuric ions concentrations over 0.001-0.5 ng mL(-1) and the limit of detection (LOD) in drinking water was as low as 0.45 pg mL(-1). With ultrasensitivity and excellent selectivity, this feasible and simple method is potentially as a promising tool for monitoring of mercury ions in food safety and environmental applications.
authors.affiliation: State Key Lab of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, PR China.
authors.forename: Liguang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: State Key Lab of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, PR China.
authors.forename: Honghong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.affiliation: State Key Lab of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, PR China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: State Key Lab of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, PR China. Electronic address: kuangh@jiangnan.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kuang
authors.affiliation: State Key Lab of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, PR China.
authors.forename: Libing
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: State Key Lab of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, PR China.
authors.forename: Chuanlai
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D015374:Biosensing Techniques; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D060766:Drinking Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D057230:Limit of Detection; D008628:Mercury / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000633:toxicity; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman
chemical_list: D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded; D060766:Drinking Water; D006046:Gold; D008628:Mercury
keywords: Chain; Drinking water; Gold nanoparticle; Mercury ions; SERS