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A turn‐on fluorescence strategy for biothiols determination by blocking Hg(II)‐mediated fluorescence quenching of adenine‐rich DNA‐templated gold nanoclusters
Author(s) -
Wang HaiBo,
Mao AnLi,
Li YongHong,
Gan Tian,
Liu YanMing
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
luminescence
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.428
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1522-7243
pISSN - 1522-7235
DOI - 10.1002/bio.3891
Subject(s) - nanoclusters , fluorescence , detection limit , chemistry , cysteine , quenching (fluorescence) , photochemistry , thiol , ligand (biochemistry) , chromatography , biochemistry , organic chemistry , receptor , physics , enzyme , quantum mechanics
Fluorescent adenine (A)‐rich DNA‐templated gold nanoclusters were demonstrated to be a novel probe for determination of biothiols (including cysteine, glutathione, and homocysteine). Fluorescence intensity of adenine‐rich DNA‐templated gold nanoclusters could be greatly quenched by Hg(II) ions through the formation of a gold nanoclusters–Hg(II) system. When biothiols (cysteine as the model) were introduced into the system, the fluorescence intensity recovered due to the formation of a more stable Hg(II)‐thiol coordination complex using Hg‐S metal–ligand bonds, which inhibited the Hg(II)‐mediated fluorescence quenching of adenine‐rich DNA‐templated gold nanoclusters. Based on this fluorescence phenomenon, an on–off–on fluorescence strategy was designed for the sensitive determination of biothiols. The method allowed sensitive detection of cysteine with a linear detection range from 100 nM to 5 μM and a limit of detection of 30 nM. Additionally, the assay can be applied for detection of biothiol levels in human plasma samples. Therefore, it can provide a simple and rapid fluorescent platform for biothiol detection.