Microfluidic means of achieving attomolar detection limits with molecular beacon probes.

ABSTRACT: We used inline, micro-evaporators to concentrate and transport DNA targets to a nanoliter single molecule fluorescence detection chamber for subsequent molecular beacon probe hybridization and analysis. This use of solvent removal as a unique means of target transport in a microanalytical platform led to a greater than 5000-fold concentration enhancement and detection limits that pushed below the femtomolar barrier commonly reported using confocal fluorescence detection. This simple microliter-to-nanoliter interconnect for single molecule counting analysis resolved several common limitations, including the need for excessive fluorescent probe concentrations at low target levels and inefficiencies in direct handling of highly dilute biological samples. In this report, the hundreds of bacter

SUBMITTER: Puleo CM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3000354 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature