DNA G-quadruplex-templated formation of the fluorescent silver nanocluster and its application to bioimaging

► G-quadruplex stabilized silver nanoclusters were utilized as novel fluorescent probes for cell bioimaging. ► The characteristic of silver nanocluster were investigated using CD, MALDI TOF MS, and TEM analysis. ► The cell toxicity MTT assay demonstrated that the silver nanocluster has only little affect on the cytotoxicity.