A new journey of fluorescent carbon dots: A shining star in the realm of nucleic acid dyes

Nucleic acid dyes play important roles in the quantification and detection of nucleic acids by binding to nucleic acids. However, traditional nucleic acid dyes pose great environmental and economic challenges due to their high price, high toxicity, long dyeing time, low sensitivity and insufficient...

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Main Authors: Yu Ma, Bin Zhao, Guozhen Yan, Ting Zhou, Zhihua Xu, Zhihan Niu, Zhenghong Xu, Tongtong Zhang, Feng Shi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-04-01
Series:Materials & Design
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264127525002266
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author Yu Ma
Bin Zhao
Guozhen Yan
Ting Zhou
Zhihua Xu
Zhihan Niu
Zhenghong Xu
Tongtong Zhang
Feng Shi
author_facet Yu Ma
Bin Zhao
Guozhen Yan
Ting Zhou
Zhihua Xu
Zhihan Niu
Zhenghong Xu
Tongtong Zhang
Feng Shi
author_sort Yu Ma
collection DOAJ
description Nucleic acid dyes play important roles in the quantification and detection of nucleic acids by binding to nucleic acids. However, traditional nucleic acid dyes pose great environmental and economic challenges due to their high price, high toxicity, long dyeing time, low sensitivity and insufficient stability. To overcome these problems, we developed a new nucleic acid dye based on carbon dots, which were generated through hydrothermal synthesis with liquorice components as precursors and a system containing ethylenediamine. This new type of carbon dot can effectively replace traditional dyes and can be used to efficiently visualize DNA, RNA and plasmids via agarose gel electrophoresis. Then, we studied the interaction mechanism between carbon dots and nucleic acids by UV–visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and circular dichroism spectroscopy. The interaction between the carbon dots and nucleic acids mainly occurred through groove binding and was accompanied by a slight electrostatic interaction. Carbon dots-based nucleic acid dyes, with their low cost, simple synthesis process and high stability, have opened a new path for the field of nucleic acid detection. Its research and development not only promote the frontier progress of biological science and medicine but also introduces innovative strategies and tools for scientific research and clinical practice.
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spelling doaj-art-a0d9b809444a4bd2ba2aab3eadadd4822025-08-20T03:44:07ZengElsevierMaterials & Design0264-12752025-04-0125211380610.1016/j.matdes.2025.113806A new journey of fluorescent carbon dots: A shining star in the realm of nucleic acid dyesYu Ma0Bin Zhao1Guozhen Yan2Ting Zhou3Zhihua Xu4Zhihan Niu5Zhenghong Xu6Tongtong Zhang7Feng Shi8College of Life Science, Shihezi University, Xinjiang 832003, PR ChinaCollege of Life Science, Shihezi University, Xinjiang 832003, PR China; Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Plant Medicine Resources Utilization, Ministry of Education 832003, PR ChinaCollege of Life Science, Shihezi University, Xinjiang 832003, PR ChinaCollege of Life Science, Shihezi University, Xinjiang 832003, PR ChinaCollege of Life Science, Shihezi University, Xinjiang 832003, PR ChinaCollege of Life Science, Shihezi University, Xinjiang 832003, PR ChinaCollege of Life Science, Shihezi University, Xinjiang 832003, PR ChinaCollege of Life Science, Shihezi University, Xinjiang 832003, PR ChinaCollege of Life Science, Shihezi University, Xinjiang 832003, PR China; Corresponding author.Nucleic acid dyes play important roles in the quantification and detection of nucleic acids by binding to nucleic acids. However, traditional nucleic acid dyes pose great environmental and economic challenges due to their high price, high toxicity, long dyeing time, low sensitivity and insufficient stability. To overcome these problems, we developed a new nucleic acid dye based on carbon dots, which were generated through hydrothermal synthesis with liquorice components as precursors and a system containing ethylenediamine. This new type of carbon dot can effectively replace traditional dyes and can be used to efficiently visualize DNA, RNA and plasmids via agarose gel electrophoresis. Then, we studied the interaction mechanism between carbon dots and nucleic acids by UV–visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and circular dichroism spectroscopy. The interaction between the carbon dots and nucleic acids mainly occurred through groove binding and was accompanied by a slight electrostatic interaction. Carbon dots-based nucleic acid dyes, with their low cost, simple synthesis process and high stability, have opened a new path for the field of nucleic acid detection. Its research and development not only promote the frontier progress of biological science and medicine but also introduces innovative strategies and tools for scientific research and clinical practice.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264127525002266LicoriceEthylenediamineCarbon DotsEBNucleic Acid Dyes
spellingShingle Yu Ma
Bin Zhao
Guozhen Yan
Ting Zhou
Zhihua Xu
Zhihan Niu
Zhenghong Xu
Tongtong Zhang
Feng Shi
A new journey of fluorescent carbon dots: A shining star in the realm of nucleic acid dyes
Materials & Design
Licorice
Ethylenediamine
Carbon Dots
EB
Nucleic Acid Dyes
title A new journey of fluorescent carbon dots: A shining star in the realm of nucleic acid dyes
title_full A new journey of fluorescent carbon dots: A shining star in the realm of nucleic acid dyes
title_fullStr A new journey of fluorescent carbon dots: A shining star in the realm of nucleic acid dyes
title_full_unstemmed A new journey of fluorescent carbon dots: A shining star in the realm of nucleic acid dyes
title_short A new journey of fluorescent carbon dots: A shining star in the realm of nucleic acid dyes
title_sort new journey of fluorescent carbon dots a shining star in the realm of nucleic acid dyes
topic Licorice
Ethylenediamine
Carbon Dots
EB
Nucleic Acid Dyes
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264127525002266
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