Oligonucleotide-based lunimescent detection platform utilizing iridium (III) complexes

Abstract

Luminescent transition metal complexes have arisen as viable alternatives to organic dyes for sensory applications due to their notable advantages. This thesis aimed to synthesize different kinds of Ir(III) complexes, explore their interactions with DNAs and investigate their application for the construction of label-free oligonucleotide-based sensing platforms. A series of Ir(III) complexes incorporating a variety of C^N and N^N donor ligands were synthesized and were shown to exhibit G-quadruplex-selective binding properties via emission titration, UV/vis titration, fluorescence resonance energy transfer melting and G-quadruplex fluorescent intercalator displacement experiments. These G-quadruplex-selective Ir(III) complexes were utilized as signal transducers to monitor the conformational changes of oligonucleotides in label-free oligonucleotide-based luminescent detection platforms for metal ion (Sr2+), small molecules (GSH and ATP), protein (human neutrophil elastase) and enzyme activities (polymerase, hepatitis C virus NS3 helicase).

Date of Award	27 May 2015
Original language	English
Supervisor	Edmond Dik Lung MA (Supervisor)