Single-base mutation detection using neutravidin-modified polystyrene nanoparticle aggregation

A single-base mutation assay using the non-crosslinking aggregation of neutravidin-modified polystyrene nanoparticles is described. This method requires only two steps: hybridization of biotinylated probe and sample DNAs, and then mixing with neutravidin-modified nanoparticles. The aggregation was detected within 20 min in total. A combination of the DNA non-crosslinking aggregation and biotin-avidin technology has allowed sufficient performance for the detection of single nucleotide polymorphisms.