Detection of poly (U) hybridization using azido modified poly (A) coated piezoelectric crystals

A technique has been developed which uses AT-cut, 9 MHz piezoelectric crystals for the immobilization of single stranded nucleic acids and the subsequent hybridization reactions. This hybridization technique is based on detecting small changes in mass on the surface of a piezoelectric crystal which occur upon immobilizing azido containing probe nucleic acid on the surface and hybridizing complementary target nucleic acid to previously immobilized probe. The immobilized probe could be used for repeated hybridization tests. The hybridization assays were performed in solution and the frequency measurements were performed in the dry state.