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Rhodamine B nanocrystals: elaborations, characterizations and functionalizations for biosensing applications

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Abstract

A biological sensor based on fluorescent organic nanocrystals (NCs) of Rhodamine B grown in sol–gel thin films was developed. The original signalization function is based on fluorescence contrasts of NCs, which exhibit a simple fluorescence signature, good photostability and higher fluorescence intensities compared to dispersed dye molecules. Thanks to a well-controlled dissolution process of the sol–gel surface, accurately followed by atomic force microscopy, the NCs were made emerging just a few nanometers above the silicate thin films to be directly accessible to biological macromolecules. Thus, hairpin-shaped DNA, functionalized by a probe-molecule (DNA probe), has been grafted onto nanocrystal surfaces leading to a fluorescence quenching by Forster resonance energy transfer. After hybridization of these hairpin-shaped DNA probes with their complementary DNA-target, the molecular probes and NCs are pulled apart, stopping thus the quenching. This “turn-on” of nanocrystal fluorescence allows thus a label-free DNA detection. The preparation methodology of the signalization function, its functionalization by hairpin-shaped DNA probes and first DNA-sensor experiments are presented.

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Acknowledgments

The French National Research Agency (ANR Brio+) and CNRS are gratefully acknowledged for financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Univ. Grenoble Alpes, Inst NEEL, F-38042, Grenoble, France

    Emilie Dubuisson, Laëtitia Marty, Xavier Cattoën & Alain Ibanez

  2. CNRS, Inst NEEL, 38042, Grenoble, France

    Emilie Dubuisson, Laëtitia Marty, Xavier Cattoën & Alain Ibanez

  3. Ecole Polytechnique, Genewave, 91128, Palaiseau Cedex, France

    Emilie Dubuisson

  4. LPPSM, CNRS, UMR 8531, ENS Cachan, 94235, Cachan Cedex, France

    Robert Pansu

  5. Interdisciplinary Research Institute, Parc de la Haute Borne, 50 avenue de Halley, BP 70478, 59658, Villeneuve d’Ascq Cedex, France

    Sabine Szunerits

Authors
  1. Emilie Dubuisson
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  2. Laëtitia Marty
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  3. Xavier Cattoën
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  4. Robert Pansu
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  5. Sabine Szunerits
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  6. Alain Ibanez
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Correspondence to Alain Ibanez.

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Dubuisson, E., Marty, L., Cattoën, X. et al. Rhodamine B nanocrystals: elaborations, characterizations and functionalizations for biosensing applications. J Sol-Gel Sci Technol 72, 179–188 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-014-3431-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-014-3431-4

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