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Cheng Z, Wei J, Gu L, Zou L, Wang T, Chen L, Li Y, Yang Y, Li P. DNAzyme-based biosensors for mercury (Ⅱ) detection: Rational construction, advances and perspectives. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 431:128606. [PMID: 35278952 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.128606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Revised: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Mercury contamination is one of the most severe issues in society due to its threats to public health and the ecological system. However, traditional methods for mercury ion detection are still limited by their time-consuming procedures, requirement of expensive instruments, and low selectivity. In recent decades, tremendous progress has been made in the development of functional nucleic acid-based, especially DNAzyme sensors for mercury (Ⅱ) (Hg2+) determination, including RNA-cleaving DNAzymes and G-quadruplex-based DNAzymes in particular. Researchers have heavily studied the construction of Hg2+ sensors, mainly originating from in vitro selection-derived DNAzymes, by incorporating T-Hg2+-T recognition moieties in existing DNAzyme scaffolds, and interfacing Hg2+-sensitive sequences with nanomaterials. In the last case, the employment of materials (as quenchers, signal transducers and DNA immobilizers) enriches the application scenarios of current Hg2+-DNAzymes, due to a combination of their functions. We summarize a broad range of sensing approaches, including optical, electrochemical, and other sensing methods, and compare their features. This review elaborates on the rational design strategies for engineering DNAzymes to selectively sense Hg2+, critically discusses their properties in different application scenarios, and summarizes recent advances in this field. Additionally, current progress, challenges and future perspectives are also discussed. This minireview provides deeper insights into the chemistry of these functional nucleic acids when working with Hg2+, explains the design ideas of DNAzyme-sensors in each platform, and reveals potential opportunities in developing more advanced DNAzyme sensors for the highly selective and sensitive recognition of Hg2+. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATION: Mercury is one of the most toxic metallic contaminants due to its high toxicity, non-biodegradability, and serious human health risks when accumulated in the body. In the recent decade, intensive studies have focused on exploring mercury sensors by combining DNAzymes with various sensing methods, paving a promising avenue to gain ultra-high sensitivity and selectivity. However, so far, no review has introduced the recent advances on DNAzyme-based sensors for mercury detection in a critical way. In this review, we comprehensively summarized the studies on DNAzyme-based sensors for mercury detection using various sensing techniques including optical, electrochemical and other sensing methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zehua Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, China
| | - Jinchao Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, China
| | - Liqiang Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, China
| | - Liang Zou
- School of Medicine, Chengdu University, Chengdu 610106, China
| | - Ting Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, China
| | - Ling Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, China
| | - Yuqing Li
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China; Institute of Molecular Medicine (IMM), Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.
| | - Yu Yang
- Institute of Molecular Medicine (IMM), Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Peng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, China.
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