A Label-Free, Electrochemical SERS Based Assay for the Detection of DNA Hybridization and the Discrimination of Mutations
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 134 (34), 14099-14107, 2012.
Abstract
A label-free, SERS based assay for detecting DNA hybridization at an electrode surface and for distinguishing between mutations in DNA is demonstrated. Surface immobilized DNA is exposed to a binding agent that is selective for dsDNA and acts as a reporter molecule. Upon application of a negative potential, the dsDNA denatures into its constituent strands and the changes in the spectra of the reporter molecule are monitored. This method has been used to distinguish between a wild-type, 1563C/T single point mutation and ?F508 triplet deletion in the CTFR gene. The use of dsDNA selective binding agents as reporter molecules in a discrimination assay removes the burden of synthetically modifying the target to be detected, whilst retaining the flexibility in the choice of the reporter molecule.