Nanoparticle bound nucleic acid probes for DNA detection and gene inactivation

Kershaw, David Michael (2017). Nanoparticle bound nucleic acid probes for DNA detection and gene inactivation. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

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Abstract

In this project, a gold nanoparticle system has been developed that is able to detect SNP variations through a DNA based anthracene probe. A second probe is bound to the gold nanoparticle which allows the fluorescent output of the anthracene probe to be normalized. This allows the detection of SNP variations without the need for an initial reading, opening the possibility for using this system for cellular SNP identification. Through this work a new method for coating gold nanoparticles in oligonucleotides has been developed.
In further work, the use of gold nanoparticles to deliver siRNA into cells and induce gene inactivation was investigated. Efforts to improve the knockdown efficiency of these siRNA-gold nanoparticles were made by integrating a second probe onto the nanoparticle surface, non-specific effects were observed upon addition of this second probe.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Ph.D.

Supervisor(s):