Design a nanosensor based on silver nanocluster for detection of genetically modifiedorganisms

Introduction: Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are produced by introducing transgene into the genomeof an organism to achieve a desirable trait.Methods: Nanoclusters (NCs) of noble metals, including Ag, Au, and Cu are molecule-like particles of ۲-nmaverage diameter. Here, for the first time, we have tuned physicochemical features of DNA-based silvernanocluster to obtain a novelready-to-use nanosensor for GMO detection. A DNA-silver nanocluster with dualmode emissions is devised, in which this unique modality has been exploited to develop a novel nanosensor fortransgenic DNA detection.Results: TEM and fluorescence analysis revealed the formation of Ag nanoclusters, which exhibit a weakemission at ۵۵۰ nm. Moreover, in the presence of the target sequence from the transgenic plant, the nanoclustersshowed a strong enhancement in emission. This property provided a suitable sensing platform which lacksunavoidable noises. The fluorescence emission of the nanoclusters exhibited a linear relation with the targetconcentration. However, the control DNA did not affect this ratio, which clearly confirmed the selectiveresponse of the designed nanosensor.Conclusion: Finally, the attractive features of the designed nanosensor may improve the current strategies forGMOs detection.