Optical platform for simultaneous detection and quantification of multiple DNA

Peptide self-assembly leads to the formation of different types of nanostructures. Our group has recently shown the use of self-assembled nanostructures generated by a metallo-peptide as an optical sensing platform for single-stranded DNA detection. This system is a fluorescence-based detection system where a complementary DNA fragment is labeled with a fluorescent dye molecule. The fluorescence of the labeled complementary DNA (called as probe DNA) is quenched after addition of metal peptide conjugate (LM, ligand metal complex) and is recovered upon addition of target DNA. This system is so specific that it can distinguish one mismatch in the sequence. In addition, it is so selective that it can detect DNA in presence of proteins. Here, we further developed this system and showed the detection of multiple DNA fragments simultaneously. This system can perform in the presence of proteins, can discriminate even between one base-pair mismatch and can perform at concentrations as low as 200 pM.