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Nucleic acid-based fluorescent sensor systems: a review

Polymer Journal volume 54, pages 751–766 (2022)Cite this article

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Abstract

Nucleic acids have been actively applied to various sensing tools and future biodevices because of their high biocompatibility, as well as their programmable properties and functions. In this review, selected nucleic acid-based fluorescent sensors were introduced as powerful tools for exploring intracellular phenomena. Sensing systems in which readable fluorescence signals can be selectively “turned on” in the presence of target analytes are desired to obtain valuable biological information, including intracellular processes in living cells. In this context, we described the representative fluorescent signal generation mechanisms of the selected nucleic acid-based fluorescent sensors, including molecular beacon and quencher-free linear probes, as well as aptamer- and DNAzyme-based systems. In addition, recent examples of signal amplification systems for detecting small amounts of target analytes under isothermal conditions were highlighted.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported in part by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C) of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (20K05563, AS) and JSPS Research Fellowship for Young Scientists (SLH).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Science, Faculty of Engineering, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan

    Aya Shibata & Masato Ikeda

  2. United Graduate School of Drug Discovery and Medical Information Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan

    Sayuri L. Higashi & Masato Ikeda

  3. Institute for Glyco-core Research (iGCORE), Gifu University, Gifu, Japan

    Masato Ikeda

  4. Institute of Nano-Life-Systems, Institutes of Innovation for Future Society, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan

    Masato Ikeda

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  1. Aya Shibata
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  2. Sayuri L. Higashi
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Correspondence to Aya Shibata or Masato Ikeda.

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Shibata, A., Higashi, S.L. & Ikeda, M. Nucleic acid-based fluorescent sensor systems: a review. Polym J 54, 751–766 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41428-022-00623-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41428-022-00623-1

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