Issue 22, 2016

Synthesis and characterization of DNA–quantum dot conjugates for the fluorescence ratiometric detection of unlabelled DNA

Abstract

A quantum dot-based ratiometrically responsive fluorescent sensor for unlabeled single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) is reported. Several technical issues concerning the development of high yield ssDNA–QD conjugation chemistry were addressed. The DNA sensor was synthesized by conjugating methacrylic phosphoramidite-functional oligonucleotides to water-soluble cadmium zinc sulfide core/zinc sulfide shell quantum dots (CdZnS/ZnS QDs). Duplex DNA was formed when the QD-bound ssDNA was incubated with its complement. Next, titration with PicoGreen resulted in FRET energy transfer from the dot to the dsDNA intercalating dye. The resulting ratio of the dye to QD integrated emissions is a calibratable metric for label-free DNA detection with a LOD of 3.8 nmol.

Graphical abstract: Synthesis and characterization of DNA–quantum dot conjugates for the fluorescence ratiometric detection of unlabelled DNA

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
03 Aug 2016
Accepted
07 Sep 2016
First published
07 Sep 2016

Analyst, 2016,141, 6251-6258

Synthesis and characterization of DNA–quantum dot conjugates for the fluorescence ratiometric detection of unlabelled DNA

L. E. Page, X. Zhang, C. M. Tyrakowski, C. Ho and P. T. Snee, Analyst, 2016, 141, 6251 DOI: 10.1039/C6AN01760F

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements