DNA-templated fluorescent metal nanoclusters and their illuminating applications

Abstract

After the discovery of DNA during the mid-20th century, a multitude of novel methodologies have surfaced which exploit DNA for its various properties. One such recently developed application of DNA is as a template in metal nanocluster formation. In the early years of the new millennium, a group of researchers found that DNA can be adopted as a template for the binding of metal nanoparticles that ultimately form nanoclusters. Three metal nanoclusters have been studied so far, including silver, gold, and copper, which have a plethora of biological applications. This review focuses on the synthesis, mechanisms, and novel applications of DNA-templated metal nanoclusters, including the therapies that have employed them for their wide range of fluorescent properties, and the future perspectives related to their development by exploiting machine learning algorithms and molecular dynamics simulation studies.