<title>Molecular beacon biosensors for DNA/RNA analysis</title>

Abstract

We have developed a variety of novel DNA biosensors using a new class of oligonucleotide probe, molecular beacon (MB). MB has the fluorescence signal transduction mechanism built within the molecules. It can report the presence of specific nucleic acids with high sensitivity and excellent selectivity. Biotinylated MBs have been designed and synthesized for immobilization onto silica surface through avidin-biotin binding. The effect of the avidin-biotin bridge on the MB hybridization has been studied. Our result shows that using streptavidin has less effect than using avidin in MB hybridization. Two kinds of fiber optical DNA sensors have been prepared and characterized: a fiber optic evanescent wave sensor and a submicrometer optical fiber sensor. The sensors are rapid,stable, highly selective, reproducible and regenerable. They have been applied to detect specific DNA and mRNA sequences and to the study of the DNA hybridization kinetics. Silica nanoparticles have also been used for MB immobilization in order to prepare a large quantity of nanometer sized DNA/RNA biosensors.