10.1021/acsanm.8b01773.s001 Jianlei Shen Jianlei Shen Yiru Zhang Yiru Zhang Rong Hu Rong Hu Ryan T. K. Kwok Ryan T. K. Kwok Zhiming Wang Zhiming Wang Anjun Qin Anjun Qin Ben Zhong Tang Ben Zhong Tang Dual-Mode Ultrasensitive Detection of Nucleic Acids via an Aqueous “Seesaw” Strategy by Combining Aggregation-Induced Emission and Plasmonic Colorimetry American Chemical Society 2018 seesaw strategy single-strand DNA gold-nanoparticle-based colorimetric assay label-free AIE solution tonality acid detection strategies acid detection strategy enzyme-free Aggregation-Induced Emission Dual-Mode Ultrasensitive Detection HCR colorimetric assay fluorescence intensity changes hybridization chain reaction 37.2 fM point-of-care testing aggregation-induced emission enzyme-based signal amplification fluorometric Nucleic Acids pathogen diagnostics Plasmonic Colorimetry Development 2018-11-16 00:00:00 Journal contribution https://acs.figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Dual-Mode_Ultrasensitive_Detection_of_Nucleic_Acids_via_an_Aqueous_Seesaw_Strategy_by_Combining_Aggregation-Induced_Emission_and_Plasmonic_Colorimetry/7539977 Development of simple, robust, and reliable nucleic acid detection strategy holds tremendous promise for cancer or pathogen diagnostics. However, in traditional fluorescent assays, tedious chemical labeling and enzyme-based signal amplification are usually required. Developing label-free, enzyme-free nucleic acid detection strategies is of great significance. In this paper, through combining the hybridization chain reaction (HCR) technique with aggregation-induced emission (AIE)-based fluorometric assay and a gold-nanoparticle-based colorimetric assay, we developed a “seesaw” strategy for label-free, enzyme-free visual detection of nucleic acids. Two sets of signals (solution tonality and fluorescence intensity changes) were generated for one test. The limit of detection of single-strand DNA can be as low as 37.2 fM. The proposed seesaw strategy that integrates fluorometric and colorimetric assay holds great potential for the point-of-care testing of nucleic acids.