Validating the reconstruction of DNA silver nanoclusters induced by different DNA sequence via HPLC and exploring the optical properties of reconstructed DNA silver nanoclusters

Abstract

We investigated the influence of redundant DNA templates on the optical properties of DNA-stabilized silver nanoclusters (DNA AgNCs). In this study, we have labeled green emissive AgNCs on a DNA template (DNA(α)), and introduced a second DNA template (DNA(β)), which is known to stabilize red emissive AgNCs(DNA(β) AgNCs). The steady-state emission spectra suggested that the green emissive DNA(α) AgNCs underwent a reconstruction process, and formed red emissive DNA(β) AgNCs in the presence of DNA(β). This interpretation is supported by both the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) analysis. Subsequent investigations have revealed that the reconstruction of AgNCs between different DNA templates is a recurring phenomenon observed in various DNA AgNC systems. Notably, this phenomenon can be effectively employed to stain specific DNA sequences that would otherwise only yield dark DNA AgNCs through the conventional chemical reduction method.