Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer between Quantum Dots and Graphene Oxide for Sensing Biomolecules

摘要

This work designed a novel platform for effective sensingnof biomolecules by fluorescence resonance energy transfern(FRET) from quantum dots (QDs) to graphene oxide (GO).nThe QDs were first modified with a molecular beaconn(MB) as a probe to recognize the target analyte. The strongninteraction between MB and GO led to the fluorescentnquenching of QDs. Upon the recognition of the target, thendistance between the QDs and GO increased, and theninteraction between target-bound MB and GO becamenweaker, which significantly hindered the FRET and, thus,nincreased the fluorescence of QDs. The change in fluorescentnintensity produced a novel method for detectionnof the target. The GO-quenching approach could be usednfor detection of DNA sequences, with advantages such asnless labor for synthesis of the MB-based fluorescentnprobe, high quenching efficiency and sensitivity, and goodnspecificity. By substituting the MB with aptamer, thisnstrategy could be conveniently extended for detection ofnother biomolecules, which had been demonstrated by theninteraction between aptamer and protein. To the best ofnour knowledge, this is the first application of the FRETnbetween QDs and GO and opens new opportunities fornsensitive detection of biorecognition events.