Dual channel sensor for detection and discrimination of heavy metal ions based on colorimetric and fluorescence response of the AuNPs-DNA conjugates

We have presented an extensible, facile and sensitive multidimensional sensor based on DNA-gold nanoparticle (DNA-AuNP) conjugates for heavy metal ions (Ag+, Hg2+, Cr3+, Sn4+, Cd2+, Cu2+, Pb2+, Zn2+, and Mn2+) discrimination. In the presence of metal ions, the excluded effect of DNA and AuNPs with the same negative charges is disrupted, and the amount of FAM-labeled DNA adsorbed on AuNP surfaces increases, resulting in a more obvious fluorescence quenching effect. With the addition of NH2OH and HAuCl4, AuNPs grow into morphologically varied nanostructures (spherical to branched) depending on the resulting aptamer coverage, which gives rise to different colored solutions (reddish blush, purple and blue) observed by naked eyes. By simply changing the DNA sequences, three sensing elements can be easily obtained and added into this dual-channel multidimensional sensor. 9 heavy metal ions are distinguished by linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and primary component analysis (PCA). A highly sensitive discrimination of metal ion targets with the detection limit as low as 50nM with 100% identification accuracy is obtained. Remarkably, Cu2+ and Hg2+ ions with similar catalytic performance at various concentrations (300nM, 400nM, 500nM, respectively) and the mixture of the two metal ions with different volume ratios (total metal ion concentration: 500nM) can be successfully discriminated. In addition, nine heavy metal ions are also well-distinguished in river samples, and the accuracy of discrimination of these metal ions samples reaches 100%. Therefore, it will broaden the application field of DNA-AuNP conjugates-based multidimensional sensors. •We presented an extensible, facile and sensitive multidimensional sensor for heavy metal ions.•9 heavy metal ions were distinguished by linear discriminant analysis and primary component analysis.•A highly sensitive discrimination of metal ions with the detection limit of 50nM was obtained.•Nine heavy metal ions were well-distinguished in river samples with 100% identification accuracy.