Design of Metal-Organic Framework-Based Nanoprobes for Multicolor Detection of DNA Targets with Improved Sensitivity

Anal Chem. 2018 Aug 21;90(16):9929-9935. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.8b02127. Epub 2018 Aug 9.

Abstract

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) receive more and more interest in the field of analytical chemistry for their diverse structures and multifunctionality. In this study, we have designed and fabricated nanoscale MOF-based nanoprobes for multicolor detection of DNA targets with improved sensitivity. To do so, MOF-based nanoprobes, constructed by using porous MOFs as a scaffold to load signal dyes and a DNA hairpin structure as capping shell, have been prepared. Once the target has been introduced, a competitive displacement reaction triggers the release of fluorophores from the MOFs' pores. Consequently, a significantly enhanced fluorescence signal can be observed owing to the high loading capacity of MOFs. Therefore, the stimuli-responsive nanoprobes can enable sensitive detection of DNA targets with a low detection limit of 20 fM and selective identification to discriminate single-base mismatch. Moreover, the MOFs can encapsulate different fluorophores with different DNA gatekeepers designed according to the sequence of the target DNA, resulting in more kinds of stimuli-responsive nanoprobes for multiplexed DNA analysis in the same solution. Furthermore, these smart nanoprobes reported in this paper may provide a unique MOF-based tool for detection of various targets via stimuli-responsive systems in the future to widen the applications of MOFs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • DNA / analysis*
  • DNA / genetics
  • Drug Liberation
  • Fluorescent Dyes / chemistry*
  • Limit of Detection
  • Metal-Organic Frameworks / chemical synthesis
  • Metal-Organic Frameworks / chemistry*
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Nucleic Acid Hybridization
  • Porosity
  • Spectrometry, Fluorescence / methods

Substances

  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Metal-Organic Frameworks
  • DNA