Research summary
Oligonucleotide-functionalized gold nanoparticles for biomolecular sensing and surface patterning define this work. The foundational 1997 Science paper used mercaptoalkyloligonucleotide-modified gold nanoparticles whose distance-dependent plasmonic coupling produces a sharp colorimetric change upon hybridization with a complementary oligonucleotide target, enabling visible-light detection of a 30-base target with high single-base mismatch selectivity [2]. The 1998 JACS extension introduced a tail-to-tail probe configuration that simplifies assay design and improved discrimination of single-base imperfections [9]. A 2000 Science paper translated the platform into a scanometric DNA array detection scheme that uses silver-enhanced gold-nanoparticle probes read on a flatbed scanner, providing high sensitivity without fluorescence instrumentation [6]. A 2002 Science paper extended detection to multiplexed nucleic acids by encoding gold-nanoparticle probes with Raman-active dyes and using silver coating to enhance surface-enhanced Raman scattering [5]. A 2003 Science paper introduced bio-bar-code amplification, combining magnetic microparticle capture with nanoparticle-encoded reporter strands to detect prostate-specific antigen at attomolar concentration, comparable to PCR for proteins [7]. A 2005 Chemical Reviews piece synthesized the field of nanostructures in biodiagnostics, organizing nanoparticle, nanowire, and nanostructured-surface platforms by transduction mechanism and analyte class [1]. A 2010 Angewandte Chemie review covered the broader application of gold nanoparticles in biology and medicine including imaging, drug delivery, and photothermal therapy [8]. In surface patterning, the 1999 Science paper introduced "dip-pen" nanolithography, in which an AFM tip writes alkanethiols on gold with 30 nm linewidth resolution by analogy to a quill pen [4], and a 2001 Science paper showed photoinduced conversion of silver nanospheres into triangular nanoprisms with size and edge length controlled by illumination wavelength and exposure [3]. The recurring methodological thread is the use of nanostructured platforms whose collective optical and chemical properties enable detection or fabrication beyond the limits of single molecules.
Recent publications
- A DNA-based method for rationally assembling nanoparticles into macroscopic materialsDOI
- Nanostructures in BiodiagnosticsDOI
- Selective Colorimetric Detection of Polynucleotides Based on the Distance-Dependent Optical Properties of Gold NanoparticlesDOI
- Photoinduced Conversion of Silver Nanospheres to NanoprismsDOI
- "Dip-Pen" NanolithographyDOI
- Nanoparticles with Raman Spectroscopic Fingerprints for DNA and RNA DetectionDOI
- Scanometric DNA Array Detection with Nanoparticle ProbesDOI
- Nanoparticle-Based Bio-Bar Codes for the Ultrasensitive Detection of ProteinsDOI
- Gold Nanoparticles for Biology and MedicineDOI
- One-Pot Colorimetric Differentiation of Polynucleotides with Single Base Imperfections Using Gold Nanoparticle ProbesDOI
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Email Chad A. Mirkin 6-12 months before your application deadline. Read several recent papers and reference specific work in your message. Use our how to email a Japanese professor guide for the proven email structure.
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External profiles
- ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6634-7627
- OpenAlex: openalex.org
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