Solvent effects were studied in fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) from a cationic polyfluorene copolymer
(FHQ, FPQ) to a fluorescein (Fl)-labeled oligonucleotide (ssDNA-Fl). Upon addition of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO),
optical properties of the polymers and the probe dye were substantially modified. And the FRET-induced Fl emission
was measured by directly exciting the polymer within the complex, polymer/ssDNA-Fl. The FRET signal was
successfully modulated with changing the DMSO content. In the case of FHQ, the FRET-induced Fl emission was
seriously quenched in phosphate buffer solution (PBS), while a salient FRET signal was observed in a 80 vol%
DMSO/PBS mixture (36.8 time higher than that in PBS). The FPQ-sensitized FRET signal was also 3.8-fold amplified
by the presence of DMSO. That result is from the decrease of hydrophobic interactions between the polymer and
ssDNA-Fl, which induces the weaker polymer/ssDNA-Fl complexation with longer intermolecular separation. The
gradual decrease in Fl PL quenching with increasing the DMSO content was investigated by measuring the Stern-
Volmer quenching constants (3.3-4.2 × 106 M-1 in PBS, 0.56-1.1 x 106 M-1 in 80 vol% DMSO) in PBS/DMSO mixtures.
The substantially reduced PL quenching would amplify the resulting FRET Fl signal. This approach suggests a simple
way of modifying the fine-structure of polymer/ssDNA-Fl and improving the detection sensitivity in conjugated
polymer-based FRET bioassays.
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