Heavy Metal Ions Trigger a Fluorescent Quenching in DNA-Organic Semiconductor Hybrid Assemblies

Xianyang Li; Yuhui Feng; Tao Yi; Yan Piao; Dong Hyuk Park; Longzhen Cui; Chunzhi Cui

doi:10.3390/polym14173591

Heavy Metal Ions Trigger a Fluorescent Quenching in DNA-Organic Semiconductor Hybrid Assemblies

Polymers (Basel). 2022 Aug 31;14(17):3591. doi: 10.3390/polym14173591.

Authors

Xianyang Li¹, Yuhui Feng², Tao Yi², Yan Piao³, Dong Hyuk Park⁴, Longzhen Cui⁵, Chunzhi Cui¹

Affiliations

¹ National Demonstration Centre for Experimental Chemistry Education, Department of Chemistry, Yanbian University, Yanji 133002, China.
² Jilin Tobacco Industry Co., Ltd., Yanji 133001, China.
³ Longjing Municipal Ecological and Environmental Monitoring Station, Longjing 133400, China.
⁴ Department of Chemical Engineering, Inha University, Incheon 22212, Korea.
⁵ Department of Preventive Medicine, Yanbian University, Yanji 133002, China.

Abstract

The significance of DNA is no longer limited to its role as a biological information carrier; as a natural polymer, it also become in the field of materials. Single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) molecules with specific sequences can form a G-quadruplex or hairpin-shaped conformation with specific heavy metal ions through coordination bonds. In this study, ssDNA molecules of the four sequences were prepared into hybrid assemblies with one of the famous display materials, the tris-(8-hydroxyquinoline)aluminum (Alq₃) semiconductor. Based on these hybrid assemblies, heavy metal ions, namely Pb²⁺, Hg²⁺, Cd²⁺ and As³⁺, were detected individually at the ppb level. Apart from this, in practical application, many samples containing heavy metal ions are digested with acid. By introducing MES buffer solution, the influence of acidity on the fluorescent signal of Alq₃ was excluded. This strategy showed promising results in the practical application of detecting heavy metal ions in shrub branches and leaves.

Keywords: DNA; heavy metal ions; tris-(8-hydroxyquinoline)aluminum.

Grants and funding

This research was funded by National Natural Science Foundation of China grant number [52011540402; 21865037]. And The APC was funded by Jilin Tobacco Industry Co., Ltd.