Using porous silicon (PSi) interferometer sensors, we show the first experimental implementation of the high contrast probe cleavage detection (HCPCD) mechanism. HCPCD makes use of dramatic optical signal amplification caused by cleavage of high-contrast nanoparticle labels on probes instead of the capture of low-index biological molecules. An approximately 2 nm reflectance peak shift was detected after cleavage of DNA-quantum dot probes from the PSi surface via exposure to a 12.5 nM DNase enzyme solution for 2 hrs. This signal change is 20 times greater than the resolution of the spectrometer used for the interferometric measurements, and the interferometric measurements agree with the interferometric response predicted by simulations and fluorescence measurements. These proof of principle experiments show a clear path to real-time, highly sensitive and inexpensive point-of-care readout for a broad range of biological diagnostic assays that generate signal via nucleic acid cleavage.

中文翻译：

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通过量子点标记的DNA探针在多孔硅生物传感器上进行高对比度探针裂解检测

使用多孔硅（PSi）干涉仪传感器，我们展示了高对比度探针裂解检测（HCPCD）机制的第一个实验实现。HCPCD利用了由探针上高对比度纳米颗粒标记的裂解引起的戏剧性光信号放大，而不是捕获了低指数生物分子。通过暴露于12.5 nM DNase酶溶液2小时从PSi表面切割DNA量子点探针后，检测到大约2 nm的反射峰位移。该信号变化比用于干涉测量的光谱仪的分辨率大20倍，并且干涉测量与模拟和荧光测量预测的干涉响应一致。这些原理验证实验显示了通向实时的清晰途径，