title: Antibacterial Activity of DNA-Stabilized Silver Nanoclusters Tuned by Oligonucleotide Sequence.
abstract: Silver nanoclusters (AgNCs) stabilized by DNA are promising materials with tunable fluorescent properties, which have been employed in a plethora of sensing systems. In this report, we explore their antimicrobial properties in Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. After testing 9 oligonucleotides with different sequence and length, we found that the antibacterial activity depends on the sequence of the oligonucleotide employed. The sequences tested yielded fluorescent AgNCs, which can be grouped in blue, yellow, and red emitters. Interestingly, blue emitters yielded poor antibacterial activity, whereas yellow and red emitters afforded an activity similar to silver nitrate. Furthermore, structural studies using circular dichroism indicate the formation of complexes with different stability and structure, which might be one of the factors that modulate their activity. Finally, we prepared a trimeric structure containing the sequence that afforded the best antimicrobial activity, which inhibited the growth of Gram-positive and negative bacteria in the submicromolar range.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Madrileño de Estudios Avanzados en Nanociencia (IMDEA Nanociencia), & Nanobiotecnología (IMDEA-Nanociencia), Unidad Asociada al Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CSIC) , 28049 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Siamak
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Javani
authors.affiliation: Instituto Madrileño de Estudios Avanzados en Nanociencia (IMDEA Nanociencia), & Nanobiotecnología (IMDEA-Nanociencia), Unidad Asociada al Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CSIC) , 28049 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Romina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lorca
authors.affiliation: Instituto Madrileño de Estudios Avanzados en Nanociencia (IMDEA Nanociencia), & Nanobiotecnología (IMDEA-Nanociencia), Unidad Asociada al Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CSIC) , 28049 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Alfonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Latorre
authors.affiliation: Instituto Madrileño de Estudios Avanzados en Nanociencia (IMDEA Nanociencia), & Nanobiotecnología (IMDEA-Nanociencia), Unidad Asociada al Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CSIC) , 28049 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Flors
authors.affiliation: Instituto Madrileño de Estudios Avanzados en Nanociencia (IMDEA Nanociencia), & Nanobiotecnología (IMDEA-Nanociencia), Unidad Asociada al Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CSIC) , 28049 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Aitziber L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Cortajarena
authors.affiliation: Instituto Madrileño de Estudios Avanzados en Nanociencia (IMDEA Nanociencia), & Nanobiotecnología (IMDEA-Nanociencia), Unidad Asociada al Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CSIC) , 28049 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Álvaro
authors.initials: Á
authors.lastname: Somoza
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002942:Circular Dichroism; D004247:DNA; D049329:Nanostructures; D009841:Oligonucleotides; D012834:Silver
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D009841:Oligonucleotides; D012834:Silver; D004247:DNA
keywords: DNA; antibacterial; fluorescence; oligonucleotide; silver nanocluster