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Updated: Jul 10, 2026

Visual Detection of Multiple Nucleic Acids in a Capillary Array
Published on: November 15, 2017
Identification of single-strand DNA by in situ scanning tunneling microscopy
Mikala Grubb1, Hainer Wackerbarth, Jens Ulstrup
1Bioinorganic Group, Department of Chemistry and NanoDTU, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark.
Abstract:
We report here in situ scanning tunneling microscopy imaging of hexaammineruthenium (II)/(III) (RuHex) binding to single-strand DNA oligonucleotide with 13 bases immobilized in a mixed monolayer on a single-crystal Au(111) surface. RuHex does not bind to the other component in the monolayer, mercaptohexanol. Images before and after addition of RuHex show a strong contrast increase, suggesting that single-stranded DNA is, indeed, conducting when a redox group is bound to the strand. When compared with previous results, the data also suggest that the mechanism of domain formation of the immobilized DNA is independent of the sequence.
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