DNA aptamer-immobilized magnetic nanoparticle having high selectivity, visual detection and rapid screening of Hg2+.

This novel nano-adsorbent offers high selectivity and rapid screening of Hg2+ through visual detection. The process involved coating the magnetic nanoparticle (MNP) with alginate, followed by immobilization of a DNA aptamer specific to Hg2+, resulting in the formation of Apt@Alg@MNP. It was utilized as a nano-adsorbent for rapid screening tests to qualitatively detect Hg2+ on the particles by observing the color change in the Hg2+-adsorbed Apt@Alg@MNP dispersion. The nano-adsorbent exhibited high specificity toward Hg2+ and demonstrated strong anti-interference capability. It was successfully employed as a nano-adsorbent for the determination of Hg2+ in various real water samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]