DNA-Templated Fluorescent Metal Nanoclusters and Their Illuminating Applications

Abstract

After the discovery of DNA during the mid-20th century, a multitude of novel methodologies have surfaced which exploit DNA for its various properties. One such recently developed application of DNA is its function as a template in metal nanocluster formation. In the early years of the new millennium, a group of researchers found that DNA can be adopted as a template for the binding of metal nanoparticles that ultimately form nanoclusters. Three metal nanoclusters have been studied so far, which include silver, gold, and copper, which have a plethora of biological applications. This review navigates through the synthesis, mechanisms, and novel applications of DNA-templated metal nanoclusters, which includes the therapies that have employed this for its wide range of fluorescent properties and the future perspectives related to its development by exploiting machine learning algorithms and molecular dynamics simulation studies.