Molecular beacons immobilized within suspended core optical fiber for specific DNA detection.

We propose and experimentally demonstrate a new class of sensor for specific DNA sequences based on molecular beacons (MB) immobilized on the internal surfaces of suspended core optical fibers (SCF). MBs, a type of hairpin structured DNA probe, are attached on the surface of the SCF core using a fuzzy nanoassembly process used in conjunction with a biotin-streptavidin-biotin surface attachment strategy. The proposed DNA sensor detects complementary DNA sequences (cDNA) while discriminating sequences differing from the target by just one base. This enables the detection of DNA in unprecedentedly small sample volumes (nL scale) and is, to the best of our knowledge, the first specific DNA detection using a DNA probe immobilized within a microstructured optical fiber.