Entrapment of fluorescence signaling DNA enzymes in sol-gel-derived materials for metal ion sensing.

Three fluorescence signaling DNA enzymes (deoxyribozymes or DNAzymes) were successfully immobilized within a series of sol−gel-derived matrixes and used for sensing of various metal ions. The DNAzymes are designed such that binding of appropriate metal ions induces the formation of a catalytic site that cleaves a ribonucleotide linkage within a DNA substrate. A fluorophore (fluorescein) and a quencher (DABCYL, [4-(4-dimethylaminophenylazo)benzoic acid]) were placed on the two deoxythymidines flanking the ribonucleotide to allow the generation of fluorescence upon the catalytic cleavage at the RNA linkage. In general, all DNAzymes retained at least partial catalytic function when entrapped in either hydrophilic or hydrophobic silica-based materials, but displayed slower response times and lower overall signal changes relative to solution. Interestingly, it was determined that maximum sensitivity toward metal ions was obtained when DNAzymes were entrapped into composite materials containing ∼40% of methyltr...