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We report a new sensor for the specific detection of lead ions (Pb 2+ ) in contaminated water based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) as donors and gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) as receptors. The UCNPs modified with Pb 2+  aptamers could bind to Au NPs, which were functionalized with complementary DNA through hybridization. The green fluorescence of UCNPs was quenched to a maximum rate of 80% due to the close proximity between the energy donor and the acceptor. In the presence of Pb 2+ , the FRET process was broken because Pb 2+  induced the formation of G-quadruplexes from aptamers, resulting in unwound DNA duplexes and separated acceptors from donors. The fluorescence of UCNPs was restored, and the relative intensity had a significant linear correlation with Pb 2+  concentration from 0 to 50 nM. The sensor had a detection limit as low as 4.1 nM in a buffer solution. More importantly, the sensor exhibited specific detection of Pb 2+  in complex metal ions, demonstrating high selectivity in practical application. The developed FRET prober may open up a new insight into the specific detection of environmental pollution.

A Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer Probe Based on DNA-Modified Upconversion and Gold Nanoparticles for Detection of Lead Ions