Highly sensitive non-stripping gold nanoparticles-based chemiluminescent detection of DNA hybridization coupled to magnetic beads.

We have developed a new nanoparticle (NP)-based chemiluminescent (CL) method for the sensitive detection of DNA hybridization. The "sandwich-type" DNA technique comprises NH(2)-functionalized capture DNA immobilized on magnetic beads that can hybridize with one end of the target DNA. The other end of the target is recognized by a reporter DNA probe labeled with Au NPs on its 3-terminus. The hybridization events were monitored by a simple and direct luminol-AgNO(3) CL reaction with a detection limit of 0.5 pM through a non-stripping Au NPs catalysis. Moreover, the CL reaction of non-stripping Au NPs-luminol-AgNO(3) offers the advantages of being simpler and faster as compared to previous stripping Ag NPs and CuS methods. This simple and easy-to-use technique holds great promise for clinical applications of DNA hybridization.