Visual detection of mercury(ii) based on recognition of the G-quadruplex conformational transition by a cyanine dye supramolecule.

A supramolecular probe for visual detection of mercury (Hg) has been designed by using a cyanine dye and AS1411 G-quadruplexes, which exhibits an obvious color change from red to blue in response to an increased level of Hg2+. The supramolecular probe exhibits high selectivity and sensitivity towards Hg2+ and is promising for the detection of environmental samples with the naked eye. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]