A method for determining
nitric oxide concentration in biological samples. The method includes for determining
nitric oxide concentration in a sample including: (i) providing a
nucleic acid complex comprising a first single-stranded
nucleic acid molecule comprising a
fluorophore crosslinked to the first strand, the
fluorophore comprising diaminorhodamine-4-
methylamine (DAR-4M) conjugated, to dibenzocyclooctyne-
polyethylene glycol (DBCO-PEGn)
linker, wherein n equals 4-12 and a second single-stranded
nucleic acid molecule that is partially or fully complementary to the first single-stranded molecule, wherein the nucleic acid complex further comprises a first
label and a targeting
moiety conjugated to the first single-stranded
nucleic acid molecule or the second single-stranded
nucleic acid molecule, the first
label is capable of producing a
signal, wherein the intensity of the
signal is dependent at least on concentration of the nucleic acid complex in the sample; (ii) contacting the sample with the nucleic acid complex; (iii) measuring the intensity of the
signal: and (iii) determining the
nitric oxide concentration from the measured signal. Compositions for determining nitric
oxide concentrations in biological samples are also included.