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Nanowire-based biosensor for short DNA using fluorescent silver nanoclusters

Unksov, Ivan N. LU ; Davtyan, Rubina LU ; Prinz, Christelle N. LU and Linke, Heiner LU orcid (2026) In Sensors and Actuators A: Physical 399.
Abstract

Sensitive detection of short nucleic acids is used to identify viral and bacterial diseases, detect biomarkers of cancer, as well as in gene expression studies. Currently available techniques such as PCR, electrochemical detection and SPR are typically costly and often require amplification of the DNA. Here, we demonstrate a sensing system for picomolar detection of short single-stranded DNA by fluorescence without any need for amplification, thermal cycling and expensive reagents. The platform harnesses the capability of waveguiding semiconductor nanowires to substantially enhance the signal of surface-bound fluorescent molecules. Employing molecular beacons based on DNA-templated silver nanoclusters that exhibit a larger signal in the... (More)

Sensitive detection of short nucleic acids is used to identify viral and bacterial diseases, detect biomarkers of cancer, as well as in gene expression studies. Currently available techniques such as PCR, electrochemical detection and SPR are typically costly and often require amplification of the DNA. Here, we demonstrate a sensing system for picomolar detection of short single-stranded DNA by fluorescence without any need for amplification, thermal cycling and expensive reagents. The platform harnesses the capability of waveguiding semiconductor nanowires to substantially enhance the signal of surface-bound fluorescent molecules. Employing molecular beacons based on DNA-templated silver nanoclusters that exhibit a larger signal in the presence of the target DNA, we improve the limit of detection by five orders of magnitude compared to flat substrates and demonstrate detection of HIV-1 DNA. The signal indicates single-molecule sensitivity of detection. Our sensor is easily adaptable for other short DNA and potentially can be mass-produced. The method requires only a small volume of analyte sample and a microscope for the detection of fluorescence on nanowires.

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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Biosensing, Fluorescence, III−V, Nanowires, Short DNA, Silver nanoclusters
in
Sensors and Actuators A: Physical
volume
399
article number
117432
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:105029836370
ISSN
0924-4247
DOI
10.1016/j.sna.2025.117432
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
869a825d-c5ed-4948-b041-66ce2a9ac913
date added to LUP
2026-04-17 13:38:06
date last changed
2026-04-17 13:38:40
@article{869a825d-c5ed-4948-b041-66ce2a9ac913,
  abstract     = {{<p>Sensitive detection of short nucleic acids is used to identify viral and bacterial diseases, detect biomarkers of cancer, as well as in gene expression studies. Currently available techniques such as PCR, electrochemical detection and SPR are typically costly and often require amplification of the DNA. Here, we demonstrate a sensing system for picomolar detection of short single-stranded DNA by fluorescence without any need for amplification, thermal cycling and expensive reagents. The platform harnesses the capability of waveguiding semiconductor nanowires to substantially enhance the signal of surface-bound fluorescent molecules. Employing molecular beacons based on DNA-templated silver nanoclusters that exhibit a larger signal in the presence of the target DNA, we improve the limit of detection by five orders of magnitude compared to flat substrates and demonstrate detection of HIV-1 DNA. The signal indicates single-molecule sensitivity of detection. Our sensor is easily adaptable for other short DNA and potentially can be mass-produced. The method requires only a small volume of analyte sample and a microscope for the detection of fluorescence on nanowires.</p>}},
  author       = {{Unksov, Ivan N. and Davtyan, Rubina and Prinz, Christelle N. and Linke, Heiner}},
  issn         = {{0924-4247}},
  keywords     = {{Biosensing; Fluorescence; III−V; Nanowires; Short DNA; Silver nanoclusters}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Sensors and Actuators A: Physical}},
  title        = {{Nanowire-based biosensor for short DNA using fluorescent silver nanoclusters}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.sna.2025.117432}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.sna.2025.117432}},
  volume       = {{399}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}