Dynamic Equilibria between DNA-Stabilized Silver Nanoclusters and Silver-Carrying DNA Strands.

ABSTRACT: DNA-stabilized silver nanoclusters (DNA-AgNCs) are versatile emitters whose photophysical properties are defined by the DNA template. In this study, we explore the unusual temperature- and concentration-dependent behavior of two NIR-emissive DNA-AgNCs: one stabilized by two 16-base DNA oligomers (16mer), and another embedded within a 3-base shortened version of these strands (13mer). Using a combination of optical spectroscopy and mass spectrometry, we show that Ag⁺-carrying DNA strands can reversibly attach to DNA-AgNCs and fine-tune their photophysical properties. For 13mer-AgNC, we demonstrate the presence of three different species, (13mer)₂-[Ag₂₀]¹⁰⁺, (13mer)₃-[Ag₂₇]¹⁷⁺, and (13mer)₄-[Ag₃₄

SUBMITTER: Cerretani C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12557354 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature