A novel electrochemical method to detect mercury (II) ions

A novel and sensitive electrochemical method for determination of mercury (II) ions (Hg²⁺) based on the formation of thymine–Hg²⁺–thymine complexes and gold nanoparticle-mediated signal amplification is reported. Two 5′ end thiolated complementary oligonucleotides containing six strategically placed thymine–thymine mistakes were introduced in this work. One of the two oligonucleotides was immobilized on a gold electrode and the other one on gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). Due to six thymine–thymine mistakes the two oligonucleotides were not able to be hybridized, so AuNPs could not be immobilized onto the electrode surface after the electrode was immersed in the DNA–AuNPs solution. However, if Hg²⁺ existed, T–Hg²⁺–T complexes could be formed and AuNPs could be immobilized onto the electrode surface. Meanwhile, large numbers of [Ru(NH₃)₆]³⁺ molecules as electrochemical species could be localized onto the electrode surface. The Hg²⁺ detection limit of this assay could be as low as 10 nM, which is the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) limit of Hg²⁺ for drinkable water. This method is proven to be simple, convenient, high sensitive and selective.