NIR Biosensors Use DNA Anchors to Target a Range of Molecules

To build a flexible sensor for optically detecting a range of viruses and bacteria, a group of researchers from Ruhr University Bochum (RUB), the Fraunhofer Institute for Microelectronic Circuits and Systems (IMS), and ETH Zurich used semiconducting, single-walled, fluorescent carbon nanotubes. The modular sensors, with fluorescence in the near-infrared (NIR), are based on DNA anchors that act as molecular handles. Carbon nanotubes can be noncovalently modified to create sensors that change their fluorescence when interacting with biomolecules. However, noncovalent chemistry hinders the sensors’ ability to recognize molecules consistently and perform reliable signal transduction.