Stabilization of DNA by sodium and magnesium ions during the synthesis of DNA-bridged gold nanoparticles

Nanotechnology. 2021 Jan 22;32(4):045604. doi: 10.1088/1361-6528/abc037.

Abstract

Nanostructures synthesized using DNA-conjugated gold nanoparticles have a wide range of applications in the field of biosensorics. The stability of the DNA duplex plays a critical role as it determines the final geometry of these nanostructures. The main way to control DNA stability is to maintain a high ionic strength of the buffer solution; at the same time, high salt concentrations lead to an aggregation of nanoparticles. In this study, by means of the instrumentality of DNA-bridged seeds using tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane as a soft reducing agent the dumbbell-like gold nanoparticles up to 35 nm were synthesized with a high concentration of sodium ions of up to 100 mM and magnesium ions up to 1 mM. We also examined at the atomic level the details of the effect of the gold nanoparticle surface, as well as Na+ and Mg2+ ions, on the stability of nucleotide pairs located in close proximity to the grafting site.

MeSH terms

  • DNA / analysis
  • DNA / chemistry*
  • Gold / chemistry*
  • Magnesium / chemistry*
  • Metal Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Osmolar Concentration
  • Sodium / chemistry*

Substances

  • Gold
  • DNA
  • Sodium
  • Magnesium