Kinetics of nanoparticle-based DNA hybridization

Jayachandran, Priya

Student Work

Kinetics of nanoparticle-based DNA hybridization

Public

This study investigated the association rate constant and equilibrium constant for the hybridization of target DNA with and without gold nanoparticles. Five experiments were conducted. Four experiments were performed using varying concentrations of DNA and the fifth was carried out using protein. The results of the protein experiment were used as a baseline with which to compare the results of the DNA experiments. All experiments utilized the Autolab SPRINGLE instrument with the accompanying Data Acquisition and Kinetic Evaluation software. The SPR binding curve corresponding to the protein experiment illustrated an increase in association across the entire 1 hour exposure time as expected. The subsequent DNA experiments tested hybridization detection for 0.1 M, 0.03 M, 0.04 M, 0.05 M, and 0.06 M concentrations of DNA at 4 hour exposure time periods. The lowest concentration of DNA for hybridization detection was 0.06 M without nanoparticles. Trials without nanoparticles yielded larger association rate constants than trials with nanoparticles. This result is in accordance with expected results since the additional weight of gold nanoparticles will slow the association rate.

This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

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