title: Silver nanoclusters stabilized with denatured fish sperm DNA and the application on trace mercury ions detection.
abstract: In this study, fluorescent silver nanoclusters (Ag NCs) were synthesized using denatured fish sperm DNA as the template. In contrast to other methods, this method did not use artificial DNA as the template. After their reaction with denatured fish sperm DNA, Ag+ions were reduced by NaBH4to form Ag NCs. The Ag NCs showed a strong fluorescence emission at 650 nm when excited at 585 nm. The fluorescence intensity increased fourfold at pH 3.78, controlled with Britton-Robinson buffer solution. The fluorescence of the Ag NCs was quenched in the presence of trace mercury ions (Hg2+) in a weakly acidic medium and nitrogen atmosphere. The extent of the fluorescence quenching of Ag NCs strongly depends on the Hg2+ion concentration over a linear range from 2.0 nmol L-1to 3.0 μmol L-1. The detection limit (3σ/k) for Hg2+was 0.7 nmol L-1. Thus, a sensitive and rapid method was developed for the detection of Hg2+ions.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Theoretical Organic Chemistry and Function Molecule, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yangfang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kuang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Theoretical Organic Chemistry and Function Molecule, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Sheng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Theoretical Organic Chemistry and Function Molecule, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Fangfang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Theoretical Organic Chemistry and Function Molecule, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Shu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Theoretical Organic Chemistry and Function Molecule, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yunfei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Long
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Theoretical Organic Chemistry and Function Molecule, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Rongjin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zeng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D005399:Fishes; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D057230:Limit of Detection; D008297:Male; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D009691:Nucleic Acid Denaturation; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry*; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods*; D013094:Spermatozoa; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D012834:Silver; D004247:DNA; D008628:Mercury
keywords: Ag nanocluster; Hg2+ detection; fluorescence quenching