Creation of Linear Carbon Dot Array with Improved Optical Properties through Controlled Covalent Conjugation with DNA

Sonam Kumari, Apurv Solanki, Saptarshi Mandal, Deepa Subramanyam, Prolay Das

Index: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.8b00173

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Abstract

Controlled conjugation of fluorescent carbon dots (CDs) with DNA and subsequent fabrication of the CDs into an array through hybridization mediated self-assembly in the solution phase is reported. Covalent conjugation of CD with DNA and the subsequent array formation change the mobility of the CD-DNA array in gel electrophoresis and HPLC significantly. Interspatial distance in the CD-DNA array is tuned by the DNA sequence length and maintained at ∼8 ± 0.3 nm as revealed by electron microscopy studies. An increase in fluorescence lifetime by ∼2 ns was observed for the CD-DNA array compared to a solitary CD, vis-á-vis better imaging prospects of HEK293 cells by the former. Thus, the array displays improved fluorescence and unhindered cell penetration.