Oligonucleotide-stabilized Ag nanocluster fluorophores

Single-stranded oligonucleotides stabilize highly fluorescent Ag nanoclusters, with emission colors tunable via DNA sequence. We utilized DNA microarrays to optimize these scaffold sequences for creating nearly spectrally pure Ag nanocluster fluorophores that are highly photostable and exhibit great buffer stability. Five different nanocluster emitters have been created with tunable emission from the blue to the near-IR and excellent photophysical properties. Ensemble and single molecule fluorescence studies show that oligonucleotide encapsulated Ag nanoclusters exhibit significantly greater photostability and higher emission rates than commonly used cyanine dyes.