Patent ID: 6773884
Filing Date: 2004-08-10
Classification: B01J,B82B,B82Y,C07H,C12Q,C40B,Y10S

Abstract:
A method of detecting a nucleic acid target having at least two portions, said method comprising:contacting the nucleic acid target with at least two types of nanoparticles having oligonucleotides attached thereto, the oligonucleotides on the first type of nanoparticles having a sequence complementary to a first portion of the sequence of the nucleic acid target, the oligonucleotides on the second type of nanoparticles having a sequence complementary to a second portion of the sequence of the nucleic acid target, the contacting taking place under conditions effective to allow hybridization of the oligonucleotides on the nanoparticles with the nucleic acid target, wherein in the presence of the nucleic acid target and under hybridization conditions, the nanoparticles having oligonucleotides bound thereto form a complex with the nucleic acid target, the resulting complex having a sharp melting profile and increased melting temperature relative to a comparable complex without nanoparticles, to allow for selective discrimination of any nucleotide insertion, deletion, or mismatch in the nucleic acid target; and observing a detectable change brought about by hybridization of the oligonucleotides on the nanoparticles with the nucleic acid target.