Chemical Society Reviews Blog

In recent years, there has been an explosion of research effort in developing optical probes for biological applications. It seems that the conventional organic fluorophore is under threat from highly luminescent, nano-sized metallic rivals.

The wide range of organic fluorophores and the ease at which they can be conjugated to biomolecules still makes these a first choice in standard labelling procedures; however, their drawbacks, in particular their propensity to photobleaching, can be frustrating when conducting lengthy imaging experiments.

Many researchers are now looking to nanodots (well defined, encapsulated clusters that are free in solution) for the answer. In their Critical Review, Junhua Yu and co-workers focus on the imaging and sensing applications of silver nanodots and the advantages they have to offer over other materials. Like quantum dots, nanodots exhibit remarkable optical properties but also provide additional benefits such as being smaller in size and presenting fewer toxicological concerns.

Although their exceptionally small size is a plus, this also means that nanodots suffer from oxidation and have a tendency to aggregate, which needs to be overcome by encapsulating the nanodots within a protective layer. Yu and colleagues discuss the different strategies that are employed to this effect, namely solid matrices, synthetic polymers, small molecule ligands, peptides and single-stranded DNA. With a helping hand from these surface passivators, silver nanodots can be used as imaging agents and to detect metal ions, cysteine, and specific DNA sequences.

To read more about the recent progress in this field, download Junhua Yu’s review today.

The term ‘synthetic biology’ is used to describe the combination of engineering and biology. By rationally designing systems using biological building blocks, we can gain a better understanding of existing biological life, enabling new therapeutic solutions to be found.

Professor Wilfried Weber and colleagues from the University of Freiburg discuss in their Chem Soc Rev article recent synthetic biology technologies that have been developed for the treatment of disease, such as cancer and gouty arthritis, and also for creating functional materials.

Synthetic biological systems can be thought of as molecular circuits in which an external signal is received and processed, providing an output response. Many of the systems Weber describes involve ways to control the expression of certain genes. In one such example, protein molecules bind to a specific DNA sequence and interrupt the action of the RNA polymerase enzyme, stopping the gene from being expressed. By introducing a small ligand molecule that can bind to the protein, the protein changes its shape and no longer binds to the DNA, providing an on/off switch.

Upon binding of tetracycline, the regulator protein is released from the DNA sequence allowing transcription of the gene.

Weber also summarises how DNA, RNA and protein building blocks can be used to produce stimulus-responsive hydrogels which can also be applied for therapeutic use.

To find out more, download the Chem Soc Rev review article.