Molekulare Architektur: Nanosensoren mit DNA-Ankern

Biosensors are crucial tools for research and diagnostics. Optical biosensors are easy to use, and light is non-invasive. Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are non-bleaching, near-infrared (NIR, 780-2400 nm) fluorescent materials that are extremely sensitive to their chemical environment. Modification of their surface makes them versatile fluorescent biosensors. Now, so-called guanine quantum defects serve as anchor structures and allow assembly of sensors with any recognition unit that is attached to DNA. This general design enables powerful novel biosensors.