A Split G-Quadruplex and Graphene Oxide-Based Low-Background Platform for Fluorescence Authentication of Pseudostellaria heterophylla

A label-free split G-quadruplex and graphene oxide (GO)-based fluorescence platform has been designed to distinguish Pseudostellaria heterophylla (PH) from its adulterants based on the differences in their nrDNA ITS sequences. Herein, GO has been first introduced to capture G-rich probes with 2:2 split mode and then decrease the background signal. As T-DNA exists, the probes leave the GO surface to form double-stranded structures followed by the formation of the overhanging G-rich sequence into a G-quadruplex structure, which combines quinaldine red specifically to produce a strong fluorescence signal. In addition, this strategy allows detection of T-DNA in a wide range of concentrations from 1.0 × 10(−8) to 2.0 × 10(−6) mol·L(−1) with a detection limit of 7.8 × 10(−9) mol·L(−1). We hope that the split G-quadruplex/GO platform can be utilized to further develop gene identification sensors in Traditional Chinese Medicine or other analysis areas.