Issue 23, 2012

Calf thymus DNA-stabilized polythiophene fluorescence probe for label-free detection of spermine

Abstract

It is a challenge to detect molecules lacking a chromophore, such as polyamines, by optical methods since they are insensitive to light. In order to detect the optical signals, it is compulsory to derive these molecules with optical labels, which, however, is complicated, time-consuming and may be expensive. In this work, a highly specific strategy for spermine detection is developed on the basis of the iodide-induced conformational change of polythiophene. By using the triplex complex of negatively charged double-stranded calf thymus DNA (ctDNA)-stabilized cationic polythiophene as a fluorescent probe, the highly specific detection of spermine could be realized since polythiophene, which will be released from the triplex complex owing to the condensation and aggregation of ctDNA with spermine, undergoes a conformational change from the random-coiled non-planar state to the highly conjugated planar form in the presence of iodide, resulting in a yellow-to-red color conversion and fluorescence quenching. The quenched fluorescence was found to be proportional to the spermine concentrations in the range of 1.2–50 μM with the limit of detection (LOD) being 0.5 μM (3σ/k).

Graphical abstract: Calf thymus DNA-stabilized polythiophene fluorescence probe for label-free detection of spermine

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
12 Jul 2012
Accepted
14 Sep 2012
First published
14 Sep 2012

Analyst, 2012,137, 5565-5570

Calf thymus DNA-stabilized polythiophene fluorescence probe for label-free detection of spermine

J. Wang, Q. Zhang, Z. De Liu and C. Z. Huang, Analyst, 2012, 137, 5565 DOI: 10.1039/C2AN35952A

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