Integrated planar terahertz resonators for femtomolar sensitivity label-free detection of DNA hybridization.
A promising label-free approach for the analysis of genetic material by means of detecting the hybridization of polynucleotides with electromagnetic waves at terahertz (THz) frequencies is presented. Using an integrated waveguide approach, incorporating resonant THz structures as sample carriers and transducers for the analysis of the DNA molecules, we achieve a sensitivity down to femtomolar levels. The approach is demonstrated with time-domain ultrafast techniques based on femtosecond laser pulses for generating and electro-optically detecting broadband THz signals, although the principle can certainly be transferred to other THz technologies.
Nagel
Michael
M
Institut für Halbleitertechnik, Rheinisch Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen, Germany.
Bolivar
Peter Haring
PH
Brucherseifer
Martin
M
Kurz
Heinrich
H
Bosserhoff
Anja
A
Büttner
Reinhard
R
D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics*; D055590:Electromagnetic Phenomena / Q000295:instrumentation*; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D004247:DNA