title: Investigation of a fluorescence signal amplification mechanism used for the direct molecular detection of nucleic acids.
abstract: A fluorescence signal amplification mechanism allowing detection limits for DNA in the zeptomolar range was investigated. Photophysical properties of the molecular system were studied in order to better explain the signal amplification that is observed. We show that the confinement of a fluorescent DNA hybridization transducer in aggregates improves its quantum yield and photostability. Furthermore, we show that the combination of the resonance energy transfer occurring within the aggregates with the use of a conjugated polymer as the hybridization transducer and donor allows ultrafast and efficient energy coupling to the aggregates and can lead to the excitation of a large number of acceptors by only one donor.
authors.affiliation: Chemistry Department and Centre d'optique, photonique et laser (COPL), Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada, G1K 7P4.
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Doré
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leclerc
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Boudreau
mesh_terms: D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis*; D005453:Fluorescence; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D004247:DNA