Biosensing Amplification by Hybridization Chain Reaction on Phase-Sensitive Surface Plasmon Resonance

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Biosensing
• Molecular Diagnostics

Background:

• Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) is a powerful technique for biological and chemical sensing.
• SPR applications are limited by non-specific binding and weak signals, especially for trace targets.
• DNA aptamers offer versatile target detection, and Hybridization Chain Reaction (HCR) provides enzyme-free signal amplification.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a highly sensitive biosensing platform by integrating phase-sensitive SPR (pSPR) with HCR amplification.
• To overcome limitations of traditional SPR, such as non-specific binding and poor signal detection.
• To establish an expandable platform for sensitive detection of complex DNA sequences and diverse recognition events.

Main Methods:

• Utilized DNA aptamers as target recognition elements.
• Employed Hybridization Chain Reaction (HCR) for enzyme-free DNA signal amplification at room temperature.
• Integrated HCR with phase-sensitive SPR (pSPR) for enhanced detection capabilities.

Main Results:

• HCR demonstrated significant signal amplification, reaching up to 6.5-fold enhancement within 30 minutes under optimal salt conditions.
• Increased concentrations of HCR components (H1 and H2) led to enhanced signal output.
• The combined pSPR and HCR system showed potential for highly informative and sensitive biosensing.

Conclusions:

• Combining pSPR and HCR technologies creates a versatile and expandable platform for sensitive biosensing.
• This enzyme-free approach offers an alternative for detecting complex DNA sequences with improved signal amplification.
• The developed system holds promise for advancing biological and chemical sensing applications.