Determination of nucleic acids based on their resonance light scattering enhancement effect on metalloporphyrin derivatives

A new method for the determination of nucleic acids at nanogram per mL level is proposed based on the enhanced resonance light scattering (RLS) signal resulting from the interaction of metalloporphyrins with nucleic acids. Under optimum conditions, the weak RLS signal of metalloporphyrin is enhanced by nucleic acids, and the enhanced RLS intensity is proportional to the concentration of nucleic acids. The detection limits of calf thymus DNA were 3.5 ng mL(-1), 2.9ng mL(-1) and 1.0 ng mL(-1) for three metalloporphyrins, respectively. Synthetic samples were determined with satisfactory results.