An enzyme-free and amplified colorimetric detection strategy via target-aptamer binding triggered catalyzed hairpin assembly

Here we introduce an enzyme-free and colorimetric detection strategy for small molecule adenosine. The approach is based on the adenosine-aptamer binding triggered liberation of an initiator strand that consecutively catalyzes DNA hairpins hybridized from singles to couples. These couples induce gold nanoparticles assembled via crosslinking, which could be visualized by a color change.