Two-color, 30second microwave-accelerated Metal-Enhanced Fluorescence DNA assays: A new Rapid Catch and Signal (RCS) technology

Anatoliy I. Dragan, Karina Golberg, Amit Elbaz, Robert Marks, Yongxia Zhang, Chris D. Geddes

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

For analyses of DNA fragment sequences in solution we introduce a 2-color DNA assay, utilizing a combination of the Metal-Enhanced Fluorescence (MEF) effect and microwave-accelerated DNA hybridization. The assay is based on a new "Catch and Signal" technology, i.e. the simultaneous specific recognition of two target DNA sequences in one well by complementary anchor-ssDNAs, attached to silver island films (SiFs). It is shown that fluorescent labels (Alexa 488 and Alexa 594), covalently attached to ssDNA fragments, play the role of biosensor recognition probes, demonstrating strong response upon DNA hybridization, locating fluorophores in close proximity to silver NPs, which is ideal for MEF. Subsequently the emission dramatically increases, while the excited state lifetime decreases. It is also shown that 30. s microwave irradiation of wells, containing DNA molecules, considerably (~. 1000-fold) speeds up the highly selective hybridization of DNA fragments at ambient temperature. The 2-color "Catch and Signal" DNA assay platform can radically expedite quantitative analysis of genome DNA sequences, creating a simple and fast bio-medical platform for nucleic acid analysis.

Original languageAmerican English
Pages (from-to)1-7
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Immunological Methods
Volume366
Issue number1-2
DOIs
StatePublished - 7 Mar 2011

Keywords

  • DNA assays
  • Metal-Enhanced Fluorescence
  • Plasmon controlled fluorescence
  • Plasmon enhanced fluorescence
  • Point-of-Care diagnostics
  • Surface enhanced fluorescence

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Immunology

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