A colorimetric assay for Hg²⁺ detection based on Hg²⁺-induced hybridization chain reactions

Wang, Li-Juan; Jia, Li-Ping; Ma, Rong-Na; Jia, Wen-Li; Wang, Huaisheng

A colorimetric assay for Hg²⁺ detection based on Hg²⁺-induced hybridization chain reactions

2017

Wang, Li-Juan | Jia, Li-Ping | Ma, Rong-Na | Jia, Wen-Li | Wang, Huaisheng

A simple colorimetric sensing method for the detection of Hg²⁺ was developed by combining enzymatic catalysis with DNA-based hybridization chain reactions (HCRs). Firstly, thymine (T)-rich capture DNA (cDNA) was immobilized on a gold electrode via Au–S bonding. In the presence of Hg²⁺, thymine (T)-rich probe DNA (pDNA) hybridized with cDNA via T–Hg²⁺–T base pairs. Then the HCRs were realized using pDNA as an initiator and two biotin-labeled hairpin DNAs (H1 and H2) as fuel strands. Finally, numerous avidin-labeled horseradish peroxidase (HRP) enzymes were immobilized on long nicked ds-DNA strands, which can catalyze the H₂O₂-mediated oxidation of 3,3,5,5-tetramethylbenzidine dihydrochloride hydrate (TMB) to cause a dramatic color change. Under optimal conditions, the absorbance of TMB was linear with the logarithm of Hg²⁺ concentrations in the range of 1 fM to 1 pM, with a detection limit of 0.33 fM. This strategy exhibited good selectivity and high sensitivity, which might be a potential tool for the practical detection of Hg²⁺ in environmental monitoring.

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