Seesawed fluorescence nano-aptasensor based on highly vertical ZnO nanorods and three-dimensional quantitative fluorescence imaging for enhanced detection accuracy of ATP

Seesawed fluorescence detection based on dual-colour 3D imaging. Seesawed fluorescence detection of biomolecules was achieved through dual-colour imaging-based quantitation, where green fluorescence of capture aptamers intercalated with SYBR green-I (SGI) decreased and red fluorescence of detection aptamers with an extended DNA sequence required for the formation of DNA-templated silver nanoclusters increased simultaneously after their interaction with target biomolecules. 3D imaging-based quantitation of the two fluorescence signals using vertically aligned ZnO NRs was implemented to precisely monitor changes in ATP levels of cells. The proposed approach will facilitate the development of bioassays and diagnostics with greater precision and ultra-high sensitivity.404