title: A molecular beacon approach to measuring the DNA permeability of thin films.
abstract: A new method for determining the permeability of thin films has been developed. A molecular beacon immobilized inside a porous silica particle that is subsequently encapsulated within a thin film can be used to determine the size of DNA that can permeate through the film. Using this technique, it has been determined that over 3 h, molecules larger than 4.7 nm do not permeate 15-nm thick polyelectrolyte multilayers and after 75 h molecules larger than 6 nm were excluded. This technique has applications for determining the permeability of films used for controlled drug and gene delivery.
authors: Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia.
authors: Angus P R
authors: AP
authors: Johnston
authors: Frank
authors: F
authors: Caruso
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis*; D015342:DNA Probes / Q000737:chemistry*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008823:Micelles; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010316:Particle Size; D010539:Permeability; D011094:Polyethyleneimine / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D015342:DNA Probes; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008823:Micelles; D011094:Polyethyleneimine; D004247:DNA