Magnetic-particles-based high-throughput genotyping method with dual-color fluorescence hybridization

Application of magnetic nanoparticles in nucleic acid detection

Nucleic acid is the main material for storing, copying, and transmitting genetic information. Gene sequencing is of great significance in DNA damage research, gene therapy, mutation analysis, bacterial infection, drug development, and clinical diagnosis. Gene detection has a wide range of applications, such as environmental, biomedical, pharmaceutical, agriculture and forensic medicine to name a few. Compared with Sanger sequencing, high-throughput sequencing technology has the advantages of larger output, high resolution, and low cost which greatly promotes the application of sequencing technology in life science research. Magnetic nanoparticles, as an important part of nanomaterials, have been widely used in various applications because of their good dispersion, high surface area, low cost, easy separation in buffer systems and signal detection. Based on the above, the application of magnetic nanoparticles in nucleic acid detection was reviewed.

A Novel SNPs Detection Method Based on Gold Magnetic Nanoparticles Array and Single Base Extension

To fulfill the increasing need for large-scale genetic research, a high-throughput and automated SNPs genotyping method based on gold magnetic nanoparticles (GMNPs) array and dual-color single base extension has been designed. After amplification of DNA templates, biotinylated extension primers were captured by streptavidin coated gold magnetic nanoparticle (SA-GMNPs). Next a solid-phase, dual-color single base extension (SBE) reaction with the specific biotinylated primer was performed directly on the surface of the GMNPs. Finally, a “bead array” was fabricated by spotting GMNPs with fluorophore on a clean glass slide, and the genotype of each sample was discriminated by scanning the “bead array”. MTHFR gene C677T polymorphism of 320 individual samples were interrogated using this method, the signal/noise ratio for homozygous samples were over 12.33, while the signal/noise ratio for heterozygous samples was near 1. Compared with other dual-color hybridization based genotyping methods, the method described here gives a higher signal/noise ratio and SNP loci can be identified with a high level of confidence. This assay has the advantage of eliminating the need for background subtraction and direct analysis of the fluorescence values of the GMNPs to determine their genotypes without the necessary procedures for purification and complex reduction of PCR products. The application of this strategy to large-scale SNP studies simplifies the process, and reduces the labor required to produce highly sensitive results while improving the potential for automation.

An integrated and sensitive detection platform for biosensing application based on Fe@Au magnetic nanoparticles as bead array carries

A sensitive and selective biosensor platform suited for SNP type using Fe@Au magnetic nanoparticles (GMNPs) to fabricate bead array is described. This new platform integrates the rapid binding kinetics of magnetic nanoparticles carriers, the multiplexing and encoding capabilities of chips, and tagged array. As a DNA sensor, the biotinylated single-stranded DNA was obtained by asymmetry PCR amplification, and then captured by GMNPs modified with streptavidin to form GMNP-ssDNA complexes without further purification. The complexes were immobilized on the slide to fabricate bead array through magnetic field. The bead array was hybridized with the corresponding allele-specific tag probes for each locus, and a pair of given universal detectors were applied to these markers analysis. Using bead array, all samples can be analyzed in one hybridization chamber which lowers the cost of the assay. Using universal tags, only a pair of universal dual-color probes labeled fluorophores was used for multiplex genotyping. Without the need of laborious and time-consuming elution, the experiment process was simple, reproducible and easy to handle. Two SNPs loci from 12 individual samples were discriminated using this platform and the results demonstrated that the expected scores and good discrimination were obtained between the two alleles from the two SNP loci. In summary, the integrated sensitive platform is adaptable and versatile, while offering a high-throughput capability needed for genome research and clinical applications.

A novel automated assay with dual-color hybridization for single-nucleotide polymorphisms genotyping on gold magnetic nanoparticle array

A high-throughput and cost-effective single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping method based on a gold magnetic nanoparticle (GMNP) array with dual-color hybridization has been designed. Biotinylated single-strand polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products containing the SNP locus were captured by the GMNPs that were coated with streptavidin. The GMNP array was fabricated by immobilizing single-stranded DNA (ssDNA)-GMNP complexes onto a glass slide using a magnetic field, and SNPs were identified with dual-color fluorescence hybridization. Three different SNP loci from 24 samples were genotyped successfully using this platform. This procedure allows the user to directly analyze the bead fluorescence to determine the SNP genotype, and it eliminates the need for background subtraction for signal determination. This method also bypasses tedious PCR purification and concentration procedures, and it facilitates large-scale SNP studies by using a method that is highly sensitive, simple, labor-saving, and potentially automatable.

High-throughput SNP detection based on PCR amplification on magnetic nanoparticles using dual-color hybridization

A microarray-based method for detecting single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) using solid-phase polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) was developed. In this method one primer with a biotin label is captured by streptavidin-coated MNPs (SA-MNPs), and the PCR products are directly amplified on the surface of SA-MNPs in a 96-well plate. The samples are further probed by hybridization with a pair of dual-color probes to determine SNP. The genotype of each sample can be simultaneously identified by scanning the microarray printed with the denatured fluorescent probes. All the reactions can be performed in the same reaction volume without the necessity of purification of intermediates. This approach represents a novel, simple, and labor-saving method for SNP genotyping and can be applied in automation system(s) to achieve high-throughput SNP detection.

Multiplex single nucleotide polymorphisms genotyping using solid-phase single base extension on magnetic nanoparticles

To fulfill the increasing need for large-scale genetic research, we have developed a new solid-phase single base extension (SBE) protocol on magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) for multiplex SNP detection using adapter polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products as templates. Extension primers were covalently immobilized on the MNPs, and allele-specific extension took place along the stretch of target DNA for one-color ddNTP incorporation. The MNPs with fluorophores were spotted on a glass slide to fabricate a "bead array" to discriminate their genotypes. Eight SNP loci of three DNA samples were interrogated, and the experiment demonstrated that it is an efficient method for large-scale SNP genotyping.

High-throughput SNP genotyping based on solid-phase PCR on magnetic nanoparticles with dual-color hybridization

Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are one-base variations in DNA sequence that can often be helpful when trying to find genes responsible for inherited diseases. In this paper, a microarray-based method for typing single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) using solid-phase polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) was developed. One primer with biotin-label was captured by streptavidin coated magnetic nanoparticles (SA-MNPs), and PCR products were directly amplified on the surface of SA-MNPs in a 96-well plate. The samples were interrogated by hybridization with a pair of dual-color probes to determine SNP, and then genotype of each sample can be simultaneously identified by scanning the microarray printed with the denatured fluorescent probes. The C677T polymorphisms of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene from 126 samples were interrogated using this method. The results showed that three different genotypes were discriminated by three fluorescence patterns on the microarray. Without any purification and reduction procedure, and all reactions can be performed in the same vessel, this approach will be a simple and labor-saving method for SNP genotyping and can be applicable towards the automation system to achieve high-throughput SNP detection.