Visible label-free detection of bacterial DNA using flocculation of sterically stabilised cationic latexes.

ABSTRACT: The current gold standard diagnostic for bacterial infections is the use of culture, which can be time consuming and can take up to five days for results to be reported. There is therefore an unmet clinical need for a rapid and label free alternative. This paper demonstrates a method of detecting the presence of amplified DNA from bacterial samples using a sterically-stabilised, cationic polymer latex and widely available equipment, providing an accessible alternative DNA detection technique. If DNA is present in a sample, successful amplification by polymerase chain-reaction (PCR) results in the amplified DNA inducing flocculation of the polymer latex followed by rapid sedimentation. This results in a visible and obvious change from a milky-white dispersion to a precipitated latex with a

SUBMITTER: Trinh E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10155078 | biostudies-literature | 2023 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature