Ultrathin oligonucleotide layers for fluorescence based DNA-sensors

Preliminary investigations into the design of an affinity sensor using evanescent wave technology concentrate upon the means of immobilization of the receptor molecules. In this work DNA served as the selective recognition element. The molecular principle of a sequence-selective biosensor for DNA is based on a sandwich-hybridization assay wherein the analyte, a single-stranded (ss)DNA, bound specifically to both an immobilized capture probe and a dye-labeled oligonucleotide in free solution. The efficiency of the capture array depends on the density of highly organized oligonucleotides on the waveguide surface and correlates therefore directly with the specificity and the sensitivity of the sensor. In the present approach using the Langmuir-Blodgett technique cinnamoylbutylether-cellulose monolayers were transferred onto optical fibers or planar waveguides. These films served as matrices for the immobilization of biotinylated oligonucleotides via streptavidin. For the first time streptavidin was immobilized by that manner. The specificity of the streptavidin layer or the following bounded nucleic acid molecules were controlled by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Finally, this application has also shown to be suitable for the detection of Salmonella, which is an important pathogen associated with acute gastroenteritidis and food borne diseases.