Table 1. Summary of Three DNA-AuNP Probes (SP-1, SP-2, and SP-3), Their Packing Densities, the Rate Constant (k), and the Fraction of DNA Released after Chemical or Thermal Treatment.

		DNA dissociation induced by MCH		DNA dissociation at 37 °C
probe	packing densitya	ki (min–1)b	fMCHc	k (min–1)d	f37c
SP-1	207 ± 1	1.1 × 10–2	53.8%	1.3 × 10–5	1.6%
SP-2	210 ± 9	1.3 × 10–2	51.4%	1.3 × 10–5	1.7%
SP-3	223 ± 3	4.0 × 10–3	39.6%	2.7 × 10–5	3.6%

^aPacking density: defined as the number of DNA oligonucleotides per AuNP.

^bFor DNA release induced by 50 μM mercaptohexanol (MCH), the initial rate constant k_i was determined from the following equation: ln(1 – [released]/[total]) = k_it, where t = 10–30 min.

^cFinal released fraction f: f_MCH = [released]/[total] at 400 min; f₃₇ = [released]/[total] at 1200 min.

^dRate constant k was determined from the first order rate equation: ln(1 – [released]/[total]) = kt, where t = 60–1200 min.