Synthesis of Branched DNA Scaffolded Super‐Nanoclusters with Enhanced Antibacterial Performance

Abstract

Metal nanoclusters (NCs) possess unique optical properties, and exhibit a wide variety of potential applications. DNA with robust molecular programmability is demonstrated as an ideal scaffold to regulate the formation of NCs, offering a rational approach to precisely tune the spatial structures of NCs. Herein, the first use of branched DNA as scaffold to regulate the formation of silver nanoclusters (super-AgNC) is reported, in which the spatial structures are precisely designed and constructed. Super-AgNC with tunable shapes and arm-lengths including Y-, X-, and (Y-X)- shaped super-AgNC is achieved. The molecular structures and optical properties of super-AgNCs are systemically studied. As a proof of application, remarkably, super-AgNCs exhibit superior antibacterial performance. In addition, super-AgNCs show excellent biocompatibility with three types of tissue cells including 293T (human embryonic kidney cells), SMCs (vascular smooth muscle cells), and GLC-82 (lung adenocarcinoma cells). These performances enable the super-AgNCs adaptable in a variety of applications such as biosensing, bioimaging, and antibacterial agents.

Target-Triggered Polymerization of Branched DNA Enables Enzyme-free and Fast Discrimination of Single-Base Changes

“…X-shaped branched DNA (X-DNA) was designed as TTP monomers, which consisted of four corresponding single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) (Um et al., 2006, Yang et al., 2018). Through rational sequence design, ssDNA was composed of intermolecular binding region (marked by black in Scheme 1A) for the construction of X-DNA and sticky ends (marked by red) for recognition with specific target DNA (transfer DNA [T-DNA]).…”

A Multi‐Functional Silicon Nanoparticle Designed for Enhanced Osteoblast Calcification and Related Combination Therapy

“…Given all the data above, the grafting of positively charged chains (PDMA) did enhance the bacteriostasis of this carrier. Moreover, the antibacterial effect of MPP on E. coli was a little better than S. aureus relating to the different composition of the bacterial membrane …”

The spatial organization of trace silver atoms on a DNA template

“…106 The peak value of the uorescence spectra of Y and X increased rst, and then decreased with increased arm length, regulating the spatial structure for the tunable optical properties of AgNCs. 106 The hairpin-based C-loop with six or seven cytosines embedded in the nanowires resulting from the hybridizationpolymerization of two strands can form yellow or red emissive AgNCs, producing a micrometre-scale luminescent wire 107 (Fig. 11A).…”

“…(A) The arrangement of two different emitters on the duplex DNA 105. (B) The arrangement of emitters on the Y, X and Y-X shaped structures 106.…”