Fluorescent DNA Probes Based on Quantum Dots and Core/Shell Quantum Dots

Abstract

Fluorescent DNA probes based on the fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) were presented in this paper when AuNPs were as the energy acceptors and CdTe quantum dots and CdTe/SiO2 core/shell nanoparticles were as the energy acceptors, respectively. The DNA probes were prepared when energy donors and acceptors were conjugated with two single-stranded complementary oligonucleotides and hybridized with each other and the fluorescent intensity of probes could be decreased. The quenching efficiency of DNA probe was about 67 % when CdTe QDs were as the energy donors, while that of DNA probe was about 75 % when CdTe/SiO2 fluorescent core/shell nanoparticles were as the energy acceptors, which indicated that CdTe/SiO2 core/shell nanoparticles were suitable donors compared with CdTe QDs in DNA probe field.