Label-free and ratiometric fluorescent nanosensor based on amino-functionalized graphene quantum dots coupling catalytic G-quadruplex/hemin DNAzyme for ultrasensitive recognition of human telomere DNA

Abstract

Ultrasensitive determination of human telomere DNA is quite important in early diagnosis of generalized diseases and biodefense applications. Herein, we present a label-free and ratiometric fluorescent nanosensor for ultrasensitive determination of human telomere DNA based on amino-functionalized graphene quantum dots (af-GQDs) coupling catalytic G-quadruplex/hemin DNAzyme for the first time. During this strategy, af-GQDs are utilized as the reference fluorophore and 2,3-diaminophenazine (DAP) is chosen as the specific response signal. The fluorescence intensity of DAP at 553nm increases significantly with a simultaneous fluorescence quenching of af-GQDs at 440nm with the increase of G-quadruplex/hemin DNAzyme, resulting in a label-free and ratiometric fluorescent nanosensor toward human telomere DNA. This nanosensor exhibits broad linear range (0.2 pM∼50 pM), excellent sensitivity toward human telomere DNA recognition (LOD=25fM), and excellent selectivity for human telomere DNA over some biomolecules. This strategy is promising for the detection of any short oligonucleotides by altering the target recognition unit and avoiding the complex modification process.