First step towards larger DNA-based assemblies of fluorescent silver nanoclusters: Template design and detailed characterization of optical properties

Liam E. Yourston, Alexander Y. Lushnikov, Oleg A. Shevchenko, Kirill A. Afonin, Alexey V. Krasnoslobodtsev

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Scopus citations

Abstract

Besides being a passive carrier of genetic information, DNA can also serve as an architecture template for the synthesis of novel fluorescent nanomaterials that are arranged in a highly organized network of functional entities such as fluorescent silver nanoclusters (AgNCs). Only a few atoms in size, the properties of AgNCs can be tuned using a variety of templating DNA sequences, overhangs, and neighboring duplex regions. In this study, we explore the properties of AgNCs manufactured on a short DNA sequence-an individual element designed for a construction of a larger DNA-based functional assembly. The effects of close proximity of the double-stranded DNA, the directionality of templating single-stranded sequence, and conformational heterogeneity of the template are presented. We observe differences between designs containing the same AgNC templating sequence-twelve consecutive cytosines, (dC) 12 . AgNCs synthesized on a single “basic” templating element, (dC) 12 , emit in “red”. The addition of double-stranded DNA core, required for the larger assemblies, changes optical properties of the silver nanoclusters by adding a new population of clusters emitting in “green”. A new population of “blue” emitting clusters forms only when ssDNA templating sequence is placed on the 50 end of the double-stranded core. We also compare properties of silver nanoclusters, which were incorporated into a dimeric structure-a first step towards a larger assembly.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number613
JournalNanomaterials
Volume9
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2019

Keywords

  • Cytosine rich sequences
  • Fluorescence
  • I-motif DNA
  • Silver nanoclusters

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemical Engineering
  • General Materials Science

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