Faster Way to Detect DNA

Common procedures for the detection of specific nucleic acids as indicators of diseases generally rely on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). For real-time testing and analysis, this requires specialized reagents and expensive instrumentation that makes its application at the point-of-care unfeasible.

Hyun Gyu Park and co-workers, KAIST, Korea, have developed a simple colorimetric way of detecting nucleic acids. They use magnetic nanoparticles (MNP) and a reaction solution containing the colorimetric substrate and hydrogen peroxide. Assay samples that did not contain target DNA had an intense colorimetric response while those containing target DNA, which shielded the nanoparticles, did not. The difference could be easily detected with the naked eye.

The efficiency, simplicity, and potential for this method’s use at the point-of-care were demonstrated by diagnosing Chlamydia trachomatis from a human urine sample.