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Letter

Highly Sensitive and Selective Detection of Mercury Ions by Using Oligonucleotides, DNA Intercalators, and Conjugated Polymers

Supporting Info

Xinsheng Ren and Qing-Hua Xu*

Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, 3 Science Drive 3, Singapore 117543

Langmuir, 2009, 25 (1), pp 29–31

DOI: 10.1021/la803191v

Publication Date (Web): November 26, 2008

* Corresponding author. E-mail: chmxqh@nus.edu.sg.

Abstract

In this letter, we demonstrated a practical scheme for the detection of mercury ions in aqueous media at room temperature with high sensitivity and selectivity by using a combination of oligonucleotides, DNA intercalators, and conjugated polymers. This scheme combines the advantages of specific binding interactions between Hg²⁺ and thymine and optical amplification properties of conjugated polymers. This method is label-free, low cost, and simple to use, and all of the materials are commercially available. It works in a “mix-and-detect” manner. The limit of detection could be improved to 0.27 nM, which is much lower than the maximum level of mercury permitted by the EPA in drinking water. This scheme could also be potentially used as a two-photon sensor for detecting mercury ions in a biological environment where deep penetration is required. A detection limit of as low as 6 nM could be achieved under two-photon excitation.

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History

Published In Issue January 06, 2009
Article ASAPNovember 26, 2008
Received: October 1, 2008
Revised: November 13, 2008

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Letter

Highly Sensitive and Selective Detection of Mercury Ions by Using Oligonucleotides, DNA Intercalators, and Conjugated Polymers