Highly sensitive fluorescent sensor for mercury based on hyperbranched rolling circle amplification

Abstract

A label-free hyperbranched rolling circle amplification (HRCA) based fluorescent sensor has been developed for Hg²⁺ detection. The fluorescence intensity has a linear relationship with the concentration of the target in the range of 0.425 pmol L⁻¹ to 42.5 nmol L⁻¹, and the detection limit is as low as 0.14 pmol L⁻¹ (S/N = 3). The proposed sensor had been applied to detect Hg²⁺ in water samples with satisfying results.