SERS as tool for the analysis of DNA-chips in a microfluidic platform

A sequence-specific detection method of DNA is presented combining a solid chip surface for immobilisation of capture DNAs with a microfluidic platform and a readout of the chip based on SERS. The solid chip surface is used for immobilisation of different capture DNAs, where target strands can be hybridised and unbound surfactants can be washed away. For the detection via SERS, short-labelled oligonucleotides are hybridised to the target strands. This technique is combined with a microfluidic platform that enables a fast and automated preparation process. By applying a chip format, the problems of sequence-specific DNA detection in solution phase by means of SERS can be overcome. With this setup, we are able to distinguish between different complementary and non-complementary target sequences in one sample solution.