Microwave-accelerated surface plasmon-coupled directional luminescence 2: A platform technology for ultra fast and sensitive target DNA detection in whole blood

• Published in: Journal of immunological methods 2008-02, Vol.331 (1), p.103-113
• Main Authors: Aslan, Kadir, Previte, Michael J.R., Zhang, Yongxia, Geddes, Chris D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Chemiluminescence; DNA, Viral - blood; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental immunology; Heating - methods; Hepacivirus - isolation & purification; Hepatitis C - diagnosis; Humans; Low power microwaves; Luminescence; Metal-enhanced fluorescence; Microwave-accelerated metal-enhanced fluorescence; Microwaves; Molecular immunology; Nucleic Acid Hybridization - methods; Radiative decay engineering; Spectrum Analysis - methods; Surface assays; Surface plasmon fluorescence spectroscopy; Surface Plasmon Resonance - methods; Surface plasmon-coupled emission; Surface-enhanced fluorescence; Techniques; Ultra fast assay kinetics
• ISSN: 0022-1759; 1872-7905
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jim.2007.12.004

The application of Microwave-Accelerated Surface Plasmon-Coupled Luminescence (MA-SPCL) to fast and sensitive DNA hybridization assays in buffer and whole blood is presented. In this regard, a model DNA hybridization assay whereby a fluorophore-labeled target ssDNA specific to human immunodeficiency, Hepatitis C (Hep C), is probed by an anchor probe immobilized on thin gold films, is driven to completion within 1 min with microwave heating, as compared to an identical assay completed in ≈ 4 h at room temperature. Finite-Difference Time-Domain calculations show that gold disks are preferentially heated around the edges creating a temperature gradient along the disks, which in turn results in the larger influx of complementary DNA towards anchor probe-modified surface. Thermal images of the assay platform during microwave heating also provide additional information on the microwave heating pattern in the microwave cavity. Finally, the effects of low power microwave heating on the ability of DNA to re-hybridize with the complimentary target on the surface gold films, which allows the multiple re-use of the gold films, is demonstrated. The MA-SPCL technique offers an alternative approach to current DNA based detection technologies, especially when speed and sensitivity are required, such as in the identification of DNA or even RNA-based diseases using whole blood samples that affect human health.