Ultrasensitive Detection of DNA and RNA Based on Enzyme-Free Click Chemical Ligation Chain Reaction on Dispersed Gold Nanoparticles

An ultrasensitive colorimetric DNA and RNA assay using a combination of enzyme-free click chemical ligation chain reaction (CCLCR) on dispersed gold nanoparticles (GNPs) and a magnetic separation process has been developed. The click chemical ligation between an azide-containing probe DNA-modified GNP and a dibenzocyclooctyne-containing probe biotinyl DNA occurred through hybridization with target DNA (RNA) to form the biotinyl-ligated GNPs (ligated products). Eventually, both the biotinyl-ligated GNPs and target DNA (RNA) were amplified exponentially using thermal cycling. After separation of the biotinyl-ligated GNPs using streptavidin-modified magnetic beads, the change in intensity of the surface plasmon band at 525 nm in the supernatants was observed by UV/vis measurement and was also evident visually. The CCLCR assay provides ultrasensitive detection (50 zM: several copies) of target DNA that is comparable to PCR-based approaches. Note that target RNA could also be detected with similar sensitivity without the need for reverse transcription to the corresponding cDNA. The amplification efficiency of the CCLCR assay was as high as 82% due to the pseudohomogeneous reaction behavior of CCLCR on dispersed GNPs. In addition, the CCLCR assay was able to discriminate differences in single-base mismatches and to specifically detect target DNA and target RNA from the cell lysate.