title: Characterization of superlighting polymer-DNA aggregates: a fluorescence and light scattering study.
abstract: The massive amplification of fluorescence signal observed upon hybridization of as few as five DNA molecules into self-assembled structures formed between a cationic polymer and DNA oligonucleotides is investigated. These superlighting polymer-DNA aggregates were studied by fluorescence spectroscopy, static and dynamic light scattering, and zeta potential measurements in order to characterize the aggregation behavior and to understand the processes involved during DNA detection. Multi-angle laser light scattering was also used to obtain the weight-average aggregate mass (AM), the aggregation number (Nagg), the radius of gyration (Rg), and the dissymmetry ratio (z). These results have been used, together with TEM imaging, to propose a suitable physical model for the aggregates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Centre d'optique, photonique et laser (COPL), and Centre de recherches sur la science et l'ingénierie des macromolécules (CERSIM), Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Doré
authors.forename: Rodica
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Neagu-Plesu
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leclerc
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Boudreau
authors.forename: Anna M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ritcey
mesh_terms: D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides / Q000737:chemistry*; D011806:Quinolinium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence
chemical_list: C481052:Alexa fluor 546; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; D011806:Quinolinium Compounds; D004247:DNA