Application of naphthalene diimide in biotechnology

Abstract

Naphthalene diimide (NDI) is an electron-deficient, robust, and planar molecule. These characteristics make it highly applicable to electronic devices that take advantage of their electric character, for imide group-based supramolecular materials that utilize hydrogen bonding, or for sensing materials with a combination of functional groups. Water-soluble NDI binds to a DNA duplex via the threading intercalation mode. Such NDI has enabled the development of unique DNA analytical techniques, functional DNA polymers, and supramolecular polymers. A ferrocene-containing NDI, possessing electrochemically active sites, has been applied to an electrochemical gene detection system and utilized in the precision analysis of genes and single nucleotide polymorphisms. Recently, a DNA quadruplex was identified as one of the noncanonical DNA structures formed by a guanine quartet (G4). The latter serves as one of the control units of gene expression and is associated with cancer development. A stable complex was formed between electron-deficient NDI and the electron-rich G4 planes. Since the G4 stabilizer is recognized as an anticancer agent with relatively few side effects, NDI derivatives may serve as potential candidates for anticancer therapeutics or for designing a unique cancer-detection system. Water-soluble Naphthalene diimide (NDI) binds to the DNA duplex via threading intercalation mode. This has provided unique DNA analytical techniques, functional DNA polymers, and supramolecular polymers. Especially the ferrocene-containing NDIs, having electrochemically active sites, has been applied to an electrochemical gene detection system and also utilized in the precision analysis of genes and single nucleotide polymorphisms. Recently, NDI derivatives have been recognizing as potential candidate for anticancer therapeutics and for designing a unique cancer-detection system.