Technological applications arising from the interactions of DNA bases with metal ions

• Different types of metal-base pairs are summarized.
• Recent advances in the application of metal-base pairs are described.
• DNA-templated fluorescent nanomaterials such as silver nanoclusters are highlighted.
• Wide-spread applications of DNA-templated silver nanoclusters are discussed.

An intense interest has grown in the unique interactions of nucleic acids with metal ions, which lead to the formation of metal-base pairs and the generation of fluorescent nanomaterials. In this review, different types of metal-base pairs, especially those formed from naturally occurring nucleosides, are described with emphasis also being given to recent advances made in employing these complexes to govern enzymatic reactions. The review also contains a comprehensive description of DNA-templated inorganic nanomaterials such as silver nanoclusters which possess excellent fluorescence properties. Finally, a summary is given about how these materials have led to recent advances in the field of nanobiotechnology.

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