The Need

Currently, non-enzymatic signal amplification assays, an alternative to PCR, are complicated reactions employing multiple DNA constructs. The most successful non-enzymatic assays rely on stand-displacement reactions within DNA duplexes that result in background activity. Because of this background activity, they are significantly limited in their application to diagnostics. Techniques that only require short constructs with fluorescent detection will facilitate further development of non-enzymatic amplication assays for development of straightforward diagnostic tools.

The Technology

Dr. Besik Kankia has introduced a solution to the issue of DNA signal amplification with his novel quadruplex-based non-enzymatic DNA signal amplification technique. His scheme is based on tertiary structure transformation within a monomolecular hairpin construct. The target molecular initiates the tertiary structure transformation, which then releases the stable quadruplex and emits light. This method will aid in the development of non-enzymatic isothermal diagnostic tools. The assay requires only a short construct with an intrinsic fluorescence detection mechanisms and possesses the ability to proceed at thermodynamic conditions that are not favorable.

Commercial Applications

• Molecular Diagnostics
  • Developing countries
  • Field POC
• Molecular Biology

Benefits/Advantages

• Point of Care Diagnostic
• Isothermal Diagnostic
• Minimal background activity
• Less than 1 hour to obtain results
• 0.1 mL of sample