Based on a novel signal amplification strategy by catalytic hairpin assembly and displacement of G-quadruplex DNA, an enzyme-free, non-label fluorescent aptasensing approach was established for sensitive detection of four tetracycline veterinary drugs in milk. The network consisted of a pair of partially complementary DNA hairpins (HP1 and HP2). The DNA aptamer of four tetracycline veterinary drugs was located at the sticky end of the HP1. The ring region of HP1 rich in G and C could form a stable G-quadruplex structure, which could emit specific fluorescence signal after binding with the fluorescent dye and N-methylmesoporphyrin IX (NMM). When presented in the system, the target analytes would be repeatedly used to trigger a recycling procedure between the hairpins, generating numerous HP1-HP2 duplex complexes and displacing G-quadruplex DNA. Thus, the sensitive detection of target analytes was achieved in a wide linear range (0-1000 μg/L) with the detection limit of 4.6 μg/L. Moreover, this proposed method showed high discrimination efficiency towards target analytes against other common mismatched veterinary drugs, and could be successfully applied to the analysis of milk samples. Graphical abstract Schematic of target analyte detection based on catalytic hairpin assembly reaction and displacement of G-quadruplex.
Keywords: Catalytic hairpin assembly; Fluorescence; G-quadruplex; Milk samples; N-methylmesoporphyrin IX; Tetracycline veterinary drugs.