DETECTION OF TARGET NUCLEIC ACID MOLECULES BY ALTERATION OF REACTION OF A REDOX SPECIES FOLLOWING HYBRIDIZATION WITH IMMOBLIZED CAPTURE NUCLEIC ACID MOLECULES

摘要

The invention relates to an apparatus for the detection of a target nucleic acid molecule, and to methods for making and using the apparatus. The apparatus includes a capture nucleic acid molecule immobilized on a surface, a redox species (e.g. a thiol group (mercaptohexanol), a redox intercalator etc.) and a reaction means (e.g. an electrode) for reaction with the redox species, wherein the capture nucleic acid molecule is capable of (i) moving the redox species and the reaction means into engagement, (ii) displacing the redox species and the reaction means from each other or (iii) permiting a reaction species (such as an ion in solution) to contact the redox species when the capture nucleic acid is hybridised to a target nucleic acid molecule, (i), (ii) or (iii) resulting in an alteration in the reaction of the redox species with the reaction means or the reaction species. The surface optionally includes a plurality of repellent molecules (such as mercaptoethanol, mercaptopropanol, or mercaptohexanol) which limit the adsorption of the capture nucleic acid molecule to the surface and repel suitably charged redox species.