Linkage Pathways of DNA–Nanoparticle Conjugates and Biological Applications

Abstract

DNA–nanoparticle conjugates have extraordinary optical and catalytic properties that have attracted great interest in biosensing and biomedical applications. Combining these special qualities has made it possible to create extremely sensitive and selective biomolecule detection methods, as well as effective nanopharmaceutical carriers and therapy medications. In particular, inorganic nanoparticles, such as metal nanoparticles, metal–organic framework nanoparticles, or upconversion nanoparticles with relatively inert surfaces can easily bind to DNA through covalent bonds, ligand bonds, electrostatic adsorption, biotin–streptavidin interactions and click chemistry to form DNA–nanoparticle conjugates for a broad range of applications in biosensing and biomedicine due to their exceptional surface modifiability. In this review, we summarize the recent advances in the assembly mechanism of DNA–nanoparticle conjugates and their biological applications. The challenges of designing DNA–nanoparticle conjugates and their further applications are also discussed.