Disposable sensor uses DNA to detect hazardous ur...( tate University and Oak Ridge National ...),Health

tate University and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, assembled the uranium sensor and tested it on soils containing varying amounts of uranium. The presence of uranyl causes catalytic cleavage of the DNA and release of the fluorophore, resulting in a dramatic increase of fluorescence intensity. With a detection sensitivity of 11 parts per trillion, the disposable sensor rivaled the performance of much more sophisticated laboratory instruments.

In 2000, Lus research group used the same catalytic DNA process to create a simple but effective lead sensor. This latest success demonstrates that our methodology can be used to make cost-effective sensors for other hazardous metals, as well, with extremely high sensitivity and selectivity, Lu said. We can also construct sensor arrays that detect and quantify many metal ions simultaneously.

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Contact: James E. Kloeppel, Physical Sciences Editor
kloeppel@uiuc.edu
217-244-1073
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
14-Feb-2007

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