Selective and Sensitive Monitoring of Cerebral Antioxidants Based on the Dye-Labeled DNA/Polydopamine Conjugates

A simple and novel method for evaluating antioxidants in complex biological fluids has been developed based on the interaction of dye-labeled single strand DNA (ssDNA) and polydopamine (PDA). Due to the interaction between ssDNA and PDA, the fluorescence of dye-labeled ssDNA (e.g., FITC-ssDNA, as donor) can be quenched by PDA (as acceptor) to the fluorescence off state through Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET). However, in the presence of various antioxidants, such as glutathione (GSH), ascorbic acid (AA), cysteine (Cys), and homocysteine (Hcys), the spontaneous oxidative polymerization reaction from DA to PDA would be blocked, resulting in the freedom of FITC-ssDNA and leading to the fluorescence on state. The sensing system shows great sensitivity for the monitoring of antioxidants in a fluorescent turn on format. The new strategy also exhibits great selectivity and is free from the interferences of amino acids, metal ions and the biological species commonly existing in brain systems. Moreover, by combining the micro dialysis technique, the present method has been successfully applied to monitor the dynamic changes of the striatum antioxidants in rat cerebrospinal microdialysates during the normal/ischemia/reperfusion process. This work establishes an effective platform for in vivo monitoring antioxidants in cerebral ischemia model, and promises new opportunities for the research of brain chemistry, neuroprotection, physiological, and pathological events.