國立臺灣師範大學化學系Y.-H. LiuY.-Y. TsaiH.-J. ChienC.-Y ChenY.-F. HuangJ.-S. ChenY.-C. WuChia-Chun Chen2014-12-022014-12-022011-04-150957-4484http://rportal.lib.ntnu.edu.tw/handle/20.500.12235/42358We have developed a new technique using fluorescent silica nanotubes for simple and sensitive DNA detection. The quantum-dot-embedded silica nanotubes (QD-SNTs) were fabricated by a sol–gel reaction using anodic aluminum silica oxide (AAO) as a template. The fluorescent QD-SNTs of different colors were then immobilized with single-stranded DNA and used as nanoprobes for DNA detection. The optical and structural properties of QD-SNT nanoprobes were examined using photoluminescence spectroscopy, confocal microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The QD-SNT nanoprobes were applied to detect dye-labeled target DNA in a solution phase. The obvious color change of the QD-SNT nanoprobes was observed visually under a simple microscope after the successful detection with target DNA. The quantitative analyses indicated that ~ 100 attomole of target DNA in one nanoprobe can generate a distinguishable and observable color change. The detection results also demonstrated that our assay exhibited high specificity, high selectivity and very low nonspecific adsorption. Our simple DNA assay based on QD-SNT nanoprobes is expected to be quite useful for the needs of fast DNA screening and detection applications.Quantum-dot-embedded silica nanotubes as nanoprobes for simple and sensitive DNA detection