Fluorescent silver atom clusters in DNA hairpin loops

ORAL

Abstract

We synthesize fluorescent clusters of silver atoms on DNA hairpins, and systematically vary the loop region to probe the effects of DNA sequence and structure on the optical properties and chemical stability of the Ag clusters. We find that these novel fluorophores only form on the single stranded hairpin loop, have Stoke's shifts ranging from 60nm to 120nm and can be tuned to emit at wavelengths ranging from 525nm to 670nm. Furthermore, certain DNA geometries support strong excitation of visible fluorescence by 260-280nm light.

*This work was supported by NSF grant CCF-0622257, an NSF GAANN Fellowship, and a UCSB Academic Senate Seed Grant.

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Authors

  • Patrick O'Neill

    • University of California Santa Barbara

  • Elisabeth Gwinn

    • University of California Santa Barbara

  • Dirk Bouwmeester

    • University of California Santa Barbara, Department of Physics
    • University of California Santa Barbara
    • Physics Dept., University of California Santa Barbara
    • University of California - Santa Barbara and University of Leiden

  • Deborah Fygenson

    • University of California Santa Barbara