A highly selective nanogold-aptamer catalytic resonance scattering spectral assay for trace Hg(2+) using HAuCl(4)-ascorbic acid as indicator reaction.

Single strand DNA (ssDNA) was used to modify nanogold to obtain a nanogold-aptamer resonance scattering (RS) probe (NGssDNA) for Hg(2+), based on the formation of stable thymine-Hg(2+)-thymine (T-Hg(2+)-T) mismatches and aggregation of the released nanogold particles. After removing the aggregated particles by filtrate membrane, the excess NGssDNA in the filtration solution exhibit catalytic effect on the gold particle reaction between HAuCl(4) and ascorbic acid (AA) that appear as RS peak at 596nm. When Hg(2+) concentration increased, the RS intensity at 596nm decreased. The decreased intensity is linear to Hg(2+) concentration in the range of 0.00008-0.888ng/mL Hg(2+), with detection limit of 0.000034ng/mL. The nanogold-aptamer catalytic RS assay was applied to determination of Hg(2+) in water with satisfactory results.