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DNA sequence-dependent fluorescence of doxorubicin for turn-on detection of biothiols in human serum

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Abstract

Doxorubicin (Dox) is a DNA-targeting anthracycline antibiotic active against a wide spectrum of cancers. The interaction between Dox and double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) was used to load Dox using DNA duplexes as carriers. More importantly, the interesting DNA sequence-dependent fluorescence response of Dox could be exploited in the design of efficient Dox release systems and efficient fluorescence sensors. In this work, we demonstrated that separate introduction of G and C bases into T-rich single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) sequences afforded the best discrimination of Dox binding between dsDNA and ssDNA. For the first time, we successfully utilized this interesting DNA sequence-dependent fluorescence response of Dox as a signal transduction mechanism for the sensitive detection of biothiols in human serum. Cysteine, homocysteine, and glutathione were detected at as low as 26 nM, 37 nM, and 29 nM, respectively. The biosensors exhibited not only good selectivity, stability, and sensitivity in aqueous solutions but also a sensitive response in human serum, demonstrating their potential for diagnosis.

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Acknowledgments

This work is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 21275156) and the CAS Hundred Talents program.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Nano-Bio Interface, Division of Nanobiomedicine, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, 215123, China

    Xing Chen, Guimei Jiang, Zhili Wang, Shanni Hong, Yuanyuan Zhang, Yahui Guo, Hui Cheng, Jine Wang & Renjun Pei

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  1. Xing Chen
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  2. Guimei Jiang
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Correspondence to Renjun Pei.

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Chen, X., Jiang, G., Wang, Z. et al. DNA sequence-dependent fluorescence of doxorubicin for turn-on detection of biothiols in human serum. Anal Bioanal Chem 408, 683–693 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-015-9168-2

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