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Ultrasensitive colorimetric strategy for Hg2+ detection based on T-Hg2+-T configuration and target recycling amplification

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Abstract

A novelty aptasensor for ultrasensitive detection of Hg2+ is developed, exploiting the combination of plasmonic properties of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and exonuclease III (Exo III)-assisted target recycling for signal amplification. In the presence of Hg2+, a DNA duplex can be formed due to the strong coordination of Hg2+ and T bases of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) probe. Exo III digests the DNA duplex from the 3′ to 5′ direction, resulting in the releasing of Hg2+. Then, the released Hg2+ binds with another ssDNA probe through T-Hg2+-T coordination. After Exo III-assisted Hg2+ cycles, numerous ssDNA probes are exhausted, which promotes poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA)-induced AuNP aggregation, leading to an obvious color change and aggregation-induced plasmon red shift of AuNPs (from 520 to 610 nm). Therefore, this biosensor is ultrasensitive, which is applicable to the detection of trace level of Hg2+ with a linear range from 5 pM to 0.6 nM and an ultralow detection limit of 0.2 pM. Furthermore, it enables visual detection of Hg2+ as low as 50 pM by the naked eye. More importantly, the assay can be applied to the reliable determination of spiked Hg2+ in sea water samples with good recovery.

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Funding

This work was funded by the Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) (No. 21407035), Shandong Provincial Natural Science Foundation (ZR2014BM021), Technology and Development Program of Weihai (2014DXGJ15), and HIT-NSRIF (2011101).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Marine Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Weihai, 264209, People’s Republic of China

    Fuming Sang, Suyao Yin, Jianxin Pan & Zhizhou Zhang

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  1. Fuming Sang
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  4. Zhizhou Zhang
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Correspondence to Fuming Sang.

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Sang, F., Yin, S., Pan, J. et al. Ultrasensitive colorimetric strategy for Hg2+ detection based on T-Hg2+-T configuration and target recycling amplification. Anal Bioanal Chem 413, 7001–7007 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-021-03657-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-021-03657-1

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