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Detection of DNA damage by exploiting the distance dependence of the electrochemiluminescence energy transfer between quantum dots and gold nanoparticles

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Abstract

We have developed a platform to detect DNA damage induced by perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) by measuring the electrochemiluminescence (ECL) of a layer-by-layer electrostatic assembly. Gold nanoparticles were electrodeposited on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) and then drop coated with calf thymus DNA. The surface of the GCE was then modified by sequential drop coating with polyethyleneimine and CdSe quantum dots (QDs). The electrode surface was characterized by atomic force microscopy and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. DNA damage was determined by measuring the ECL of the QDs, which decreases when exposed to PFOA. This is because DNA damage decreases the distance between the QDs and gold nanoparticles. Eventually, this leads to the energy transfer of ECL. The process is highly sensitive to distance. ECL intensity is logarithmically related to the concentration of PFOA in the range from 10 μmol L−1 to 10 pmol L−1, and the detection limit is 10−12 mol L−1 (at an S/N ratio of 3). This ECL-based sensor represents a powerful tool for detecting PFOA and for fabricating in vitro gene vector platforms to study DNA damage.

We fabricated an in vitro gene vector platform that assesses DNA damage by using a distance-dependent ECL sensor. This sensor is highly sensitive for determining DNA damage caused by PFOA and is suited to systems containing protons, as PEI needs to be protonated to release DNA. This platform presents a new approach for in vitro gene therapy research.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the Foundation of National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.21005005), Basic Science Foundation of BJUT (No. X4005011201301), Beijing Nova program (No.2010B009) and the Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University (NCET-12-0603), Further Exploration of Talented Personnel in Beijing - Promising Key Projects (No. PHR20110818) and Beijing Natural Science Foundation Program and Scientific Research Key Program of Beijing Municipal Commission of Education (No. KZ201310005001, KZ201110005006).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Beijing on Regional Air Pollution Control, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, 100124, China

    Liping Lu, Jing Wu, Meng Li, Tianfang Kang & Shuiyuan Cheng

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  1. Liping Lu
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  2. Jing Wu
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  3. Meng Li
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  4. Tianfang Kang
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  5. Shuiyuan Cheng
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Correspondence to Liping Lu.

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Lu, L., Wu, J., Li, M. et al. Detection of DNA damage by exploiting the distance dependence of the electrochemiluminescence energy transfer between quantum dots and gold nanoparticles. Microchim Acta 182, 233–239 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-014-1322-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-014-1322-6

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