title: Rational designed bipolar, conjugated polymer-DNA composite beacon for the sensitive detection of proteins and ions.
abstract: Nature owns remarkable capabilities in sensing target molecules, while the artificial biosensor lags far behind nature. Inspired by nature, we devise a new sensing platform that can specifically bind the molecules and synchronously initiate a specific signal response. We rationally designed a type of bipolar probe that is comprised of a hydrophilic DNA part and a hydrophobic conjugated polymer (CP) unit. In aqueous solution, they can form micelles with a hydrophobic CP core and a hydrophilic DNA shell. The aggregation-caused quenching suppresses the fluorescence of CP. Adding telomerase, the hydropathical profile of the bipolar probes is drastically regulated that results in the collapse of micelles and liberates fluorescence simultaneously. The probe has been used in both mimic systems and real urine samples (38 samples). We achieve sensitive and specific detection of telomerase and obtain clearly classification for normal people and cancer patients. It can also be used in a signal off sensor that is used to detect mercury ions.
authors.affiliation: †Key Laboratory for Large-Format Battery Materials and System, Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan 430074, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Yongmei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.affiliation: ‡Division of Physical Biology and Bioimaging Center, Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Science, Shanghai 201800, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Xiaolei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zuo
authors.affiliation: †Key Laboratory for Large-Format Battery Materials and System, Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan 430074, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Xiaoding
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lou
authors.affiliation: †Key Laboratory for Large-Format Battery Materials and System, Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan 430074, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Mao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miao
authors.affiliation: †Key Laboratory for Large-Format Battery Materials and System, Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan 430074, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: †Key Laboratory for Large-Format Battery Materials and System, Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan 430074, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Xuehong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Min
authors.affiliation: †Key Laboratory for Large-Format Battery Materials and System, Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan 430074, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Xinchun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: †Key Laboratory for Large-Format Battery Materials and System, Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan 430074, P. R. China.|§National Engineering Research Center for Nanomedicine, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan 430074, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Fan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Xia
mesh_terms: D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D007477:Ions / Q000032:analysis; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis*; D008823:Micelles; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D019098:Telomerase / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007477:Ions; D008823:Micelles; D011108:Polymers; D004247:DNA; D019098:Telomerase; D008628:Mercury