Patent ID: 6506564
Filing Date: 2003-01-14
Classification: B01J,B82B,B82Y,C07B,C07H,C12Q,C40B,Y10S

Abstract:
A method of detecting a nucleic acid having at least two portions comprising:providing a type of gold nanoparticles having oligonucleotides attached thereto, the oligonucleotides on each nanoparticle having a sequence complementary to the sequence of at least two portions of the nucleic acid; contacting the nucleic acid and the nanoparticles under conditions effective to allow hybridization of the oligonucleotides on the nanoparticles with the two or more portions of the nucleic acid; and observing a detectable change brought about by hybridization of the oligonucleotides on the nanoparticles with the nucleic acid, wherein the oligonucleotides are attached to the nanoparticles by contacting the oligonucleotides with the nanoparticles in the presence of water for a sufficient period of time to allow at least some of the oligonucleotides to bind to the nanoparticles and in the presence of a salt solution for an additional period of time sufficient to allow additional oligonucleotides to bind to the nanoparticles.