A potential sensing mechanism for DNA nucleobases by optical properties of GO and MoS2 Nanopores

Abstract

We propose a new DNA sensing mechanism based on optical properties of graphene oxide (GO) and molybdenum disulphide ( MoS 2 ) nanopores. In this method, GO and MoS 2 is utilized as quantum dot (QD) nanopore and DNA molecule translocate through the nanopore. A recently-developed hybrid quantum/classical method (HQCM) is employed which uses time-dependent density functional theory and quasi-static finite difference time domain approach. Due to good biocompatibility, stability and excitation wavelength dependent emission behavior of GO and MoS 2 we use them as nanopore materials. The absorption and emission peaks wavelengths of GO and MoS 2 nanopores are investigated in the presence of DNA nucleobases. The maximum sensitivity of the proposed method to DNA is achieved for the 2-nm GO nanopore. Results show that insertion of DNA nucleobases in the nanopore shifts the wavelength of the emitted light from GO or MoS 2 nanopore up to 130 nm. The maximum value of the relative shift between two different nucleobases is achieved by the shift between cytosine (C) and thymine (T) nucleobases, ~111 nm for 2-nm GO nanopore. Results show that the proposed mechanism has a superior capability to be used in future DNA sequencers.

A Review on MoS2 Properties, Synthesis, Sensing Applications and Challenges

“…Using a bottomup synthesizing technique and defect engineering in [87], the photodynamic property of MoS 2 quantum dots (QD) was able of killing cancer cells with high efficiency. MoS 2 has a wide range of applications in microfluidic devices and immunosensors, making use of its chemical and photoluminescence properties [88]. MoS 2 nanosheets were used with microfluidics electrode for detecting Salmonella typhimurium (S.typhimurium) [89] the proposed device has fast detection and high sensitivity and can be used for other food related pathogens like E.coli, Cholera.…”

“…Table 4 gives a summary of the sensing applications along with the MoS 2 property that enables such sensing. [88,102], photodetector for biomedical imaging [72], refractive index sensing [100], gas sensing FET [103], Electrochemical biosensor for measuring cortisol in human sweat [104].…”

“…Illustrative diagram of different sensing applications of MoS 2 . Enhanced plasmonic resonance array [101], DNA sensing using MoS 2 nanopores[88,102], photodetector for biomedical imaging[72], refractive index sensing[100], gas sensing FET[103], Electrochemical biosensor for measuring cortisol in human sweat[104].…”

A DFT Study of Interaction of (CdSe)3 Quantum Dots with Nucleobases

“…Recently, Li and coworkers have investigated the effect of the interaction of amino acids and quantum dots by examining the effect of interaction on the fluorescence and the optical activity of QDs where a significant fluorescence enhancement for L/D-Cys-CdTe QDs upon interaction with various amino acids was observed [50]. In another study, mechanism of DNA sensing was developed based on optical properties of graphene oxide (GO) and molybdenum disulphide (MoS2) nanopores, where GO and MoS2 were employed as quantum dot nanopore and DNA molecule translocate through the nanopore [51]. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) system based on functionalized CdTe-guanine and AuNPscytosine bioconjugates for the nucleobase -guanine detection was developed to determine the free guanine concentration [52].…”

Nanopore Fabrication via Transient High Electric Field Controlled Breakdown and Detection of Single RNA Molecules

“…12−14 So far, nanopores are mainly formed on thin films, such as silicon nitride, 15,16 graphene, 17 and molybdenum disulfide. 18,19 Traditional pore formation approaches, including transmission electron microscopy (TEM), 20−22 focused ion beam, 23 and nanoimprint, 24 are costly and require both instrumentation and time invested by a qualified person.…”