Label-free detection of specific DNA sequence-telomere using unmodified gold nanoparticles as colorimetric probes

摘要

A simple and sensitive label-free colorimetric detection of telomere DNA has been developed. It was based on the color change of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) due to DNA hybridization. UV-vis spectra and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to investigate the change of AuNPs. Under the optimized conditions, the linear range for determination of telomere DNA was 5.7 x 10(-13) to 4.5 x 10(-6) mol/L The detection limit (3 sigma) of this method has decreased to pico-molar level.