Poly‐cytosine DNA as a High‐Affinity Ligand for Inorganic Nanomaterials

• Published in: Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2017-05, Vol.56 (22), p.6208-6212
• Main Authors: Lu, Chang, Huang, Zhicheng, Liu, Biwu, Liu, Yibo, Ying, Yibin, Liu, Juewen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Affinity; aptamers; biosensors; Cytosine; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; Drug delivery; Drug delivery systems; Hybridization; Iron oxides; Ligands; Metals; Nanomaterials; Nanoparticles; Nanotechnology; Nanotubes; Nucleotide sequence; Oxides; Pollutants; poly-cytocene; Proteins; Single wall carbon nanotubes; Surfactants
• ISSN: 1433-7851; 1521-3773
• DOI: 10.1002/anie.201702998

Attaching DNA to nanomaterials is the basis for DNA‐directed assembly, sensing, and drug delivery using such hybrid materials. Poly‐cytosine (poly‐C) DNA is a high affinity ligand for four types of commonly used nanomaterials, including nanocarbons (graphene oxide and single‐walled carbon nanotubes), transition metal dichalcogenides (MoS2 and WS2), metal oxides (Fe3O4 and ZnO), and metal nanoparticles (Au and Ag). Compared to other homo‐DNA sequences, poly‐C DNA has the highest affinity for the first three types of materials. Using a diblock DNA containing a poly‐C block to attach to surfaces, the target DNA was successfully hybridized to the other block on graphene oxide more efficiently than that containing a typical poly‐A block, especially in the presence of non‐specific background DNA, proteins, or surfactants. This work provides a simple solution for functionalizing nanomaterials with non‐modified DNA and offers new insights into DNA biointerfaces. Straight‐C student: Poly‐cytosine (poly‐C) DNA adsorbs tighter than other DNA homopolymers (such as poly‐A) on nanocarbons, metal oxides, and transition‐metal dichalcogenides, allowing poly‐C to be used as a general anchor on these surfaces for their functionalization, especially in the presence of competing proteins, nucleic acids, and surfactants. F=fluorophore.