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Sensing Nucleic Acids with Dimer Nanoclusters
Author(s) -
Chi Cheng,
Maye Mathew M.,
Stadler Andrea L.,
van der Lelie Daniel,
Gang Oleg
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
advanced functional materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.069
H-Index - 322
eISSN - 1616-3028
pISSN - 1616-301X
DOI - 10.1002/adfm.201002152
Subject(s) - nanoclusters , nucleic acid , dna , materials science , dimer , oligonucleotide , nanotechnology , kinetics , nucleic acid detection , biophysics , biochemistry , chemistry , biology , organic chemistry , physics , quantum mechanics
DNA linked nanoparticles are applied as a sensor for single‐stranded DNA detection. The detection is based on nanocluster dimer disassembly triggered by the binding of target nucleic acid strands. Target detection and disassembly kinetics are followed in real‐time using dynamic light scattering. The observed disassembly process is in agreement with a two‐step kinetic model. The DNA sensing is found to be selective down to the level of a single base mismatch, even in the presence of a high concentration of interference DNA. The method further provides label‐free detection of DNA in minutes and demonstrates the use of this new class of nanoclusters as a powerful platform for nucleic acid detection.