Mathematical modeling and computer simulation of Brownian motion and hybridization of nanoparticle-bioprobe-polymer complexes in the low concentration limit

摘要

A wide variety of nano-biotechnologic applications are being developed for nanoparticle based in vitro diagnostic and imaging systems. Some of these systems make possible highly sensitive detection of molecular biomarkers. Frequently, the very low concentration of the biomarkers makes impossible the classical, partial differential equation-based mathematical simulation of the motion of the nanoparticles involved. We address the issue of incubation times for low concentration systems using Monte Carlo simulations. We describe a mathematical model and computer simulation of Brownian motion of nanoparticle-bioprobe-polymer contrast agent complexes and their hybridization to immobilized targets. We present results for the dependence of incubation times on the number of particles available for detection, and the geometric layout of the DNA-detection assay on the chip.