A Novel Single-Labeled Fluorescent Oligonucleotide Probe for Mercury(II) Ion Detection: Using the Inherent Quenching of Deoxyguanosines

An efficient fluorescence reversible regulation strategy with single labelled oligonucleotide HEX-OND successively triggered by Hg(II) and Cysteine: The application and mechanism

An efficient fluorescence reversible regulation system with HEX-OND was developed. Then the application potential was explored in probing Hg(II) & Cysteine (Cys) in real samples and the thermodynamic mechanism was further investigated by precise theory analysis combining multiple spectroscopic methods. The results showed that only mere disturbances were observed among 15 and 11 kinds of other substances for the optimal system in detecting Hg(II) & Cys, respectively; The linear ranges of quantification were identified as 1.0 ∼ 14.0 and 2.0 ∼ 20.0 (×10^-8 mol/L) with LODs of 8.75 and 14.09 (×10^-9 mol/L) for Hg(II) and Cys, respectively; no significant deviations were found in the quantification results of Hg(II) in three traditional Chinese herbs and Cys in two samples between the well-understood methods with ours respectively, showing excellent selectivity, sensitivity, and tremendous application feasibility. The detailed mechanism was further verified as that the introduced Hg(II) forced HEX-OND to transform into the Hairpin structure with the apparent equilibrium association constant of 6.02 ± 0.62 × 10¹⁰ L/mol in the bimolecular ratio, leading to the equimolar quencher, consecutive two guanine bases ((G)₂), approaching and spontaneously static-quenching the reporter HEX (hexachlorofluorescein) (equilibrium constant, 8.75 ± 1.97 × 10⁷ L/mol) in the Photo-induced Electron Transfer (PET) way that was driven by the Electrostatic Interaction. The additional Cys destructed the equimolar Hairpin structure with the apparent equilibrium constant of 8.87 ± 2.47 × 10⁵ L/mol through breaking one of the formed T-Hg(II)-T mismatches by association with the involved Hg(II), occasioning (G)₂ apart from HEX and consequently the fluorescence recovery.

Detection of ochratoxin A using a "turn-on" fluorescence assay based on guanine quenching of the aptamer

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a common mycotoxin with high carcinogenicity; therefore, it is crucial to establish a simple, rapid, and sensitive method for its detection. In this study, we developed a "turn-on" fluorescence assay for detecting OTA based on guanine quenching of the aptamer. The method uses fluorescein (FAM) fluorophore to label the complementary strand of the OTA aptamer, Fc-DNA. In the absence of OTA, the Fc-DNA hybridizes with the aptamer to form a double strand. Due to the occurrence of photo-induced electron transfer (PET), the FAM fluorescence signal is quenched as the FAM on the Fc-DNA approaches the guanine of the aptamer at the 5' end. When OTA is present, the aptamer binds to it and thus, is unable to hybridize with Fc-DNA to form a double strand; the FAM fluorescence signal is restored as FAM moves away from the guanine of the aptamer. The assay achieved OTA detection at a detection limit of 28.4 nM. The application of the original guanine of the aptamer as the quenching agent helps avoid the complex designing and labeling of the aptamer, which ensures the high affinity of the aptamer for OTA. Meanwhile, this "turn-on" detection mode helps avoid potential false-positive results as in the "turn-off" mode and improves the assay's sensitivity. Additionally, the method has good selectivity and can be used to detect OTA in traditional Chinese medicine. This method provides a simple, low-cost, and rapid method for OTA detection.

Water-soluble mercury ion sensing based on the thymine-Hg2+-thymine base pair using retroreflective Janus particle as an optical signaling probe

Herein, we report an optical sensing platform for mercury ions (Hg²⁺) in water based on the integration of Hg²⁺-mediated thymine-thymine (T-T) stabilization, a biotinylated stem-loop DNA probe, and a streptavidin-modified retroreflective Janus particle (SA-RJP). Two oligonucleotide probes, including a stem-loop DNA probe and an assistant DNA probe, were utilized. In the absence of Hg²⁺, the assistant DNA probe does not hybridize with the stem-loop probe due to their T-T mismatch, so the surface-immobilized stem-loop DNA probe remains a closed hairpin structure. In the presence of Hg²⁺, the DNA forms a double-stranded structure with the loop region via Hg²⁺-mediated T-T stabilization. This DNA hybridization induces stretching of the stem-loop DNA probe, exposing biotin. To translate these Hg²⁺-mediated structural changes in DNA probe into measurable signal, SA-RJP, an optical signaling label, is applied to recognize the exposed biotin. The number of biospecifically bound SA-RJPs is proportional to the concentration of Hg²⁺, so that the concentration of Hg²⁺ can be quantitatively analyzed by counting the number of RJPs. Using the system, a highly selective and sensitive measurement of Hg²⁺ was accomplished with a limit of detection of 0.027nM. Considering the simplified optical instrumentation required for retroreflection-based RJP counting, RJP-assisted Hg²⁺ measurement can be accomplished in a much easier and inexpensive manner. Moreover, the detection of Hg²⁺ in real drinking water samples including tap and commercial bottled water was successfully carried out.

A nano-graphite-DNA hybrid sensor for magnified fluorescent detection of mercury(II) ions in aqueous solution

In this communication, we present a nano-graphite-DNA hybrid sensor for fluorescent detection of mercury(II) ions in aqueous solution for the first time. Furthermore, an amplification strategy based on nano-graphite for Hg(2+) detection by using DNase I was demonstrated. The proposed amplified assay was simple and cost-effective with a limit of detection (LOD) for Hg(2+) of 0.5 nM, which was about 20-fold lower than that of traditional unamplified homogeneous assays. We further demonstrated its practical application to detect Hg(2+) in a real sample.

Dual functional carbonaceous nanodots exist in a cup of tea

Water-soluble, highly photoluminescent carbonaceous nanodots were obtained from tea water and were applied to Hg²⁺ detecting and cell imaging.

Nano-C60 as a novel, effective fluorescent sensing platform for mercury(II) ion detection at critical sensitivity and selectivity

The present communication demonstrates the use of water-soluble nano-C(60) as a novel, effective fluorescent sensing platform for Hg(2+) detection for the first time. This sensing system achieves a detection limit as low as 500 pM and exhibits excellent selectivity.

A simple and sensitive fluorescent sensing platform for Hg²+ ions assay based on G-quenching

In this work, a novel fluorescence biosensor was demonstrated for detection of Hg(2+) ions with relatively high selectivity and sensitivity. The sensing scheme was based on G-quenching induced by Hg(2+) ions. In the presence of Hg(2+) ions, the single-stranded signal probe which has carboxylfluorescein (FAM) and guanine segment at its 5' and 3' ends, respectively, folded into duplex-like structure via the Hg(2+)-mediated coordination of T-Hg(2+)-T base pairs. It brought guannine segment close to the dye and caused a remarkable decrease of fluorescence signal. The sensor showed a sensitive response to Hg(2+) ions in a concentration range from 0.5 to 10 μM, and a detection limit of 0.5 nM was given. This homogeneous system required only a single-labeled oligonucleotide, operated by concise procedures, and possessed comparable sensitivity as previous approaches. Furthermore, the sensor exhibits a great perspective for future practical applications.

An enhancement of europium-/gadolinium- diphacinone -DL-histidine- cetylpyridine bromide system for the determination of diphacinone in serum

As one of the first generation anticoagulant rodenticide, diphacinone (DPN) was extensively used in China, and often occurred accidental and intentional intoxications. To meet the needs of clinical emergency rescue, a simple, rapid and sensitive method was necessary for the determination of DPN in serum. In this paper, a fluorimetric method using a ternary europium-gadolinium-DPN-DL-histidine-cetylpyridine bromide system was developed. The fluorescence intensity was measured with a 1 cm quartz cell at 335 nm excitation wavelength and 612 nm emission wavelength. The fluorescence intensity of the europium-DPN- DL- histidine complex system was further enhanced by using gadolinium ion (Gd(3+)) in a cetylpyridine bromide (CPB) colloid-type suspension. By adding Gd(3+) at pH 8.5 to 9.5 in the presence of an ammonia-ammonium chloride buffer solution, about a 100-fold enhancement of the fluorescence intensity was achieved. The enhanced fluorescence intensity showed a good linear relationship with the DPN concentration from 0.01 mg/L to 5.0 mg/L. The limit of detection was 0.001 mg/L in serum. The established method was used to determine DPN in real human serum in clinical specimens. The luminescence mechanism was discussed in detail. In the fluorescence system of the europium-gadolinium-DPN-DL-histidine-CPB, the CPB not only acted as the surfactant but also acted as the energy donor.