An Integrated Optical DNA Detector for Portable PCR

描述（由申请人提供）：这个第一阶段项目的目标是开发一种基于纳米粒子的实时光学检测器，用于聚合酶链反应（PCR）扩增DNA，该检测器集成到便携式PCR装置中，用于低技术环境。从PCR扩增中检测目标DNA寡核苷酸（ON）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，荧光需要使用大型昂贵的设备，这限制了检测方法只能在实验室设置。我们建议使用纳米探针，其可见光吸收特性在PCR溶液中目标ON存在时发生显着变化。光学探测器已被证明区分目标ON和ON只有一个不匹配的碱基对。一个基于LED和光电晶体管的简单光学检测器系统将被集成到一个完全自动化的微型PCR设备中，该设备已经处于Lynntech的高级工程阶段，其目标是生产一个原型检测器，用于低技术环境，由受过最低培训的人员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.