Dual-mode optical biosensor based on multi-functional DNA structures for detecting bioactive small molecules

Abstract

Semiconducting polymer dots and hemin-functionalized DNA nanoflowers with excellent peroxidase-like activity and high fluorescent brightness are prepared for fluorescent/colorimetric dual-mode sensing of dopamine and glutathione as low as nM and μM, respectively. This biosensor is readily applied to the analysis of complicated biological samples with high selectivity and accuracy, which opens up promising prospects in clinical applications.