title: Combining functionalised nanoparticles and SERS for the detection of DNA relating to disease.
abstract: DNA functionalised nanoparticle probes offer new opportunities in analyte detection. Ultrasensitive, molecularly specific targeting of analytes is possible through the use of metallic nanoparticles and their ability to generate a surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) response. This is leading to a new range of diagnostic clinical probes based on SERS detection. Our approaches have shown how such probes can detect specific DNA sequences by using a biomolecular recognition event to 'turn on' a SERS response through a controlled assembly process of the DNA functionalised nanoparticles. Further, we have prepared DNA aptamer functionalised SERS probes and demonstrated how introduction of a protein target can change the aggregation state of the nanoparticles in a dose-dependant manner. These approaches are being used as methods to detect biomolecules that indicate a specific disease being present with a view to improving disease management.
authors.affiliation: Centre For Molecular Nanometrology, WestCHEM, Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, University of Strathclyde, 295 Cathedral Street, Glasgow, UK. duncan.graham@strath.ac.uk
authors.forename: Duncan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.forename: Ross
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stevenson
authors.forename: David G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Lee
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Barrett
authors.forename: Colette
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dalton
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Faulds
mesh_terms: D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide / Q000737:chemistry*; D001483:Base Sequence; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman / Q000379:methods*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide; D004247:DNA