Gold nanoparticle probes for the detection of nucleic acid targets

Background: Advances in nanoscience are having a significant impact on many scientific fields and are resulting in the development of a variety of important technologies. This impact is particularly large in the field of biodiagnostics, where a number of nanoparticle-based assays have been introduced for biomolecular detection, with DNA- or protein-functionalized gold nanoparticles used as the target-specific probes. Methods: Assays provide an analysis of the unique biophysical properties displayed by gold nanoparticles and have advantages over conventional detection methods (e.g., molecular fluorophores, real-time polymerase chain reaction, RT-PCR, enzyme linked immunosorbent assays, ELISAs, gel electrophoresis, and microarray technologies). Conclusion: Some of the advantages include the assays' PCR-like sensitivity, their selectivity for target sequences, their capacity for massive multiplexing, their time efficiency, and most importantly, their ability to be performed at the point of care. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.