With their unique physical and chemical properties, metallic nanoparticle-based probes have been attracted for molecular sensing. In particular, colorimetric analysis has been counted as an attractive method due to its cost and time efficiency. With the advancement of nucleic acid nanotechnology, the collaboration of DNA materials with metallic ones has drawn attention. However, the fabrication of conjugated nanostructures of nucleic acid and metal is laborious. We introduce the novel DNA-iron oxide hybrid structures fabricated by the co-precipitation method on prepared DNA microstructures. DNA microstructures were prepared by the rolling circle amplification method. These exhibit numerous active sites for electrostatic interactions with cationic metal salts and DNA-templated structures due to the highly porous and anionic structures. Synthesized iron oxide nanoparticles were homogeneously covered on a single DNA structure minimizing agglomeration. Highly concentrated iron oxide nanoparticles on the surface of the DNA structure exhibit the cell-targeting function of the aptamers and can be detected by colorimetric assay via Prussian blue staining.

DNA microstructure-templated growth of iron oxide nanoparticles for colorimetric detection

ACS Spring 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.