title: Mild two-step method to construct DNA-conjugated silicon nanoparticles: scaffolds for the detection of microRNA-21.
abstract: We describe a novel two-step method, starting from bulk silicon wafers, to construct DNA conjugated silicon nanoparticles (SiNPs). This method first utilizes reactive high-energy ball milling (RHEBM) to obtain alkene grafted SiNPs. The alkene moieties are subsequently reacted with commercially available thiol-functionalized DNA via thiol-ene click chemistry to produce SiNP DNA conjugates wherein the DNA is attached through a covalent thioether bond. Further, to show the utility of this synthetic strategy, we illustrate how these SiNP ODN conjugates can detect cancer-associated miR-21 via a fluorescence ON strategy. Given that an array of biological molecules can be prepared with thiol termini and that SiNPs are biocompatible and biodegradable, we envision that this synthetic protocol will find utility in salient SiNP systems for potential therapeutic and diagnostic applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and ‡Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Tulane University , New Orleans, Louisiana 70118, United States.
authors.forename: Xiaoye
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kuang
authors.forename: Cooper
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Battle
authors.forename: Ted
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shaner
authors.forename: Brian S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Fink
authors.forename: Janarthanan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jayawickramarajah
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D057930:Click Chemistry; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000032:analysis*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012825:Silicon / Q000737:chemistry*; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence
chemical_list: C524940:MIRN21 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs; D004247:DNA; D012825:Silicon