The integration of hybridization chain reaction (HCR) with fluorogenic silver nanoclusters (AgNCs) in an aggregation induced emission (AIE)-based nanosensor for sex determination and its forensic application

•The sex of an individual can be determined rapidly via DYS14 detection through a simple protocol without the need of DNA labels and enzymes.•DYS14 gene acts as an initiator for the hybridization chain reaction.•The dsDNA resluted from the hybridization chain reaction has been used as a substrate for the silver nanoclusters fixation and aggregation.•Silver nanoclusters show their ability of enhancing their fluorescence through the phenomenon of aggregation induced emission.