MNAzyme-Based Gold Nanoparticle Sensor

Point-of-care (POC) diagnostics is one of the fastest growing research themes. Simple, cost-effective, and rapid POCs are important to clinicians to make quick and appropriate treatment decisions. This project combines two technologies to create a biosensor that can detect genetic targets, and be further exploited in POC devices. The technology lies on an enzymatic reaction that displays a colorimetric change when specific genetic targets are recognized. This detection strategy is a simple 1- to 2-step assay, low cost, with a better sensitivity than the standard diagnostic technique ELISA. This invention may provide easier and faster POC diagnostics.