Devices and methods for optical detection of nucleic acid hybridization
First Claim
1. A method for detecting the presence of a target nucleic acid in a sample, the method comprising:
- a) providing a support comprising a light-reflecting surface to which a nucleic acid complementary to said target nucleic acid is bound, wherein said light-reflecting surface is optically smooth and flat and exhibits a first set of reflective properties in response to light impinging on said support;
b) contacting said support with said sample, whereby said target nucleic acid, if present, hybridizes with said nucleic acid bound to said support, resulting in an increase in mass on said light-reflecting surface, wherein said light-reflecting surface exhibits a second set of reflective properties due to said increase in mass in response to said light impinging on said support; and
c) determining a change in said light-reflective properties as a means of detecting the presence of said target nucleic acid in said sample.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An optical device for determining the presence of a first nucleic acid in a sample comprising a second nucleic acid complementary to the first nucleic acid and able to hybridize with the first nucleic acid under hybridizing conditions, the second nucleic acid being bonded to a solid support, wherein the solid support is formed as a light reflecting surface having a first thickness when bonded to the second nucleic acid, and wherein the light reflecting surface has a second thickness, wherein the first and second nucleic acids are hybridized, and the first and second thicknesses can be distinguished by their effect on the light reflecting properties of said light reflecting surface independent of any label present on the first nucleic acid.
187 Citations
9 Claims
-
1. A method for detecting the presence of a target nucleic acid in a sample, the method comprising:
-
a) providing a support comprising a light-reflecting surface to which a nucleic acid complementary to said target nucleic acid is bound, wherein said light-reflecting surface is optically smooth and flat and exhibits a first set of reflective properties in response to light impinging on said support;
b) contacting said support with said sample, whereby said target nucleic acid, if present, hybridizes with said nucleic acid bound to said support, resulting in an increase in mass on said light-reflecting surface, wherein said light-reflecting surface exhibits a second set of reflective properties due to said increase in mass in response to said light impinging on said support; and
c) determining a change in said light-reflective properties as a means of detecting the presence of said target nucleic acid in said sample. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
Specification