DNA is a useful and versatile scaffold for the assembly of functional groups. Tetraphenylethylene (TPE) and related molecules have attracted interest because of their aggregation-induced emission (AIE) properties.
In this work, the AIE phenomenon was studied by hybridization of dialkynyl-tetraphenylethylene (DATPE) modified DNA strands. Molecular aggregation and fluorescence of DATPEs are shown to be controlled by duplex formation. With increasing molecular organization, a steady increase of fluorescence is observed.

This work was carried out in the group of Prof. Robert Häner.

References:

• S. Li, S. M. Langenegger, R. Häner;
  "Control of aggregation-induced emission by DNA hybridization"
  Chem. Commun., 49, 5835-5837, (2013); doi:10.1039/C3CC42706D.