title: Fluorescent silver nanocluster DNA probes for multiplexed detection using microfluidic capillary electrophoresis.
abstract: DNA-stabilized fluorescent silver nanoclusters (AgNC DNA) are a new class of fluorophore that are formed by sequence specific interactions between silver and single-stranded DNA. By incorporating both target-binding and fluorescent-reporting sequences into a single synthetic DNA oligomer, AgNC DNA probes eliminate the need to conjugate dye or quencher molecules. In this study, we modify a AgNC DNA probe to demonstrate single-color multiplexed detection of DNA targets. We show that appending different lengths of poly-dT to the probe sequences tunes the electrophoretic mobility of AgNC DNA probes without affecting their fluorescence spectra. We use this to introduce a set of AgNC DNA probes selective for Hepatitis A, B and C target sequences that can be processed together in a simple, single-step protocol and distinguished with a resolution of 3.47 and signal to noise ratio of 17.23 in under 10 seconds by microfluidic capillary electrophoresis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA. jtdo@engineering.ucsb.edu.
authors.forename: Jackson Travis
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Del Bonis-O'Donnell
authors.forename: Deborah K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Fygenson
authors.forename: Sumita
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pennathur
mesh_terms: D015342:DNA Probes / Q000737:chemistry*; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D019075:Electrophoresis, Capillary / Q000379:methods*; D005453:Fluorescence; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry*; D005470:Fluorometry; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D044085:Microfluidics / Q000379:methods*; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D015342:DNA Probes; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded; D004279:DNA, Viral; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D012834:Silver