title: Utilizing Intrinsic Properties of Polyaniline to Detect Nucleic Acid Hybridization through UV-Enhanced Electrostatic Interaction.
abstract: Detection of specific RNA or DNA molecules by hybridization to "probe" nucleic acids via complementary base-pairing is a powerful method for analysis of biological systems. Here we describe a strategy for transducing hybridization events through modulating intrinsic properties of the electroconductive polymer polyaniline (PANI). When DNA-based probes electrostatically interact with PANI, its fluorescence properties are increased, a phenomenon that can be enhanced by UV irradiation. Hybridization of target nucleic acids results in dissociation of probes causing PANI fluorescence to return to basal levels. By monitoring restoration of base PANI fluorescence as little as 10(-11) M (10 pM) of target oligonucleotides could be detected within 15 min of hybridization. Detection of complementary oligos was specific, with introduction of a single mismatch failing to form a target-probe duplex that would dissociate from PANI. Furthermore, this approach is robust and is capable of detecting specific RNAs in extracts from animals. This sensor system improves on previously reported strategies by transducing highly specific probe dissociation events through intrinsic properties of a conducting polymer without the need for additional labels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, ‡School of Polymers and High Performance Materials, and §School of Computing, University of Southern Mississippi , Hattiesburg, Mississippi 39406, United States.
authors.forename: Partha Pratim
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Sengupta
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, ‡School of Polymers and High Performance Materials, and §School of Computing, University of Southern Mississippi , Hattiesburg, Mississippi 39406, United States.
authors.forename: Jared N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Gloria
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, ‡School of Polymers and High Performance Materials, and §School of Computing, University of Southern Mississippi , Hattiesburg, Mississippi 39406, United States.
authors.forename: Dahlia N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Amato
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, ‡School of Polymers and High Performance Materials, and §School of Computing, University of Southern Mississippi , Hattiesburg, Mississippi 39406, United States.
authors.forename: Douglas V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Amato
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, ‡School of Polymers and High Performance Materials, and §School of Computing, University of Southern Mississippi , Hattiesburg, Mississippi 39406, United States.
authors.forename: Derek L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Patton
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, ‡School of Polymers and High Performance Materials, and §School of Computing, University of Southern Mississippi , Hattiesburg, Mississippi 39406, United States.
authors.forename: Beddhu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Murali
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, ‡School of Polymers and High Performance Materials, and §School of Computing, University of Southern Mississippi , Hattiesburg, Mississippi 39406, United States.
authors.forename: Alex S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Flynt
mesh_terms: D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration