An Integrated Optical DNA Detector for Portable PCR

描述（由申请人提供）：该I期项目的目标是开发一种用于聚合酶链式反应（PCR）扩增DNA的实时纳米颗粒光学检测器，该检测器集成到便携式PCR装置中，用于低技术环境。来自PCR扩增的靶DNA寡核苷酸（ON）的检测通常涉及电泳/染色或荧光指示剂。电泳分析通常需要几个小时才能完成，荧光分析需要使用大型昂贵的设备，这将检测方法限制在实验室环境中。我们建议使用纳米探针，其可见光吸收特性在PCR溶液中的目标ON的存在下急剧变化。光学检测器已显示出仅用单个错配碱基对来区分靶ON和ON。基于LED和光电晶体管的简单光学检测器系统将被集成到Lynntech已经处于高级工程阶段的完全自动化微型PCR设备中，其目标是生产一种原型检测器，用于低技术环境，由经过最低限度培训的个人在几分钟内产生测试结果。该装置可用于体外医学诊断、生物战剂检测、食品病原体检测等。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The goal of this Phase I project is to develop a real-time nanoparticle-based optical detector for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplified DNA that is integrated into a portable PCR unit for use in low technology environments. The detection of target DNA oligonucleotides (ON) from PCR amplification conventionally involves either electrophoresis/staining or fluorescence indicators. Electrophoresis analysis generally takes several hours to complete and fluorescence requires the use of large, expensive equipment that limits the detection method to laboratory settings. We propose the use of nanoprobes whose visible-light absorption properties change dramatically in the presence of the target ON in the PCR solution. The optical detector has been shown to distinguish between target ON and ON with only a single mismatched base pair. A simple optical detector system, based on an LED and a phototransistor, will be integrated into a completely automated miniature PCR device already in advanced stages of engineering at Lynntech with the goal of producing a prototype detector for use in low technology environments by minimally trained individuals that will produce test results in minutes. The device can be used for in vitro medical diagnostics, detection of biological warfare agents, detection of food pathogens, etc.