Insights into the Formation of DNA-Magnetic Nanoparticle Hybrid Structures: Correlations between Morphological Characterization and Output from Magnetic Biosensor Measurements.

Understanding the binding mechanism between probe-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) and DNA targets or amplification products thereof is essential in the optimization of magnetic biosensors for the detection of DNA. Herein, the molecular interaction forming hybrid structures upon hybridization between DNA-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles, exhibiting Brownian relaxation, and rolling circle amplification products (DNA-coils) is investigated by the use of atomic force microscopy in a liquid environment and magnetic biosensors measuring the frequency-dependent magnetic response and the frequency-dependent modulation of light transmission. This approach reveals the qualitative and quantitative correlations between the morphological features of the hybrid structures with their magnetic response. The suppression of the high-frequency peak in the magnetic response and the appearance of a new peak at lower frequencies match the formation of larger sized assemblies upon increasing the concentration of DNA-coils. Furthermore, an increase of the DNA-coil concentration induces an increase in the number of MNPs per hybrid structure. This study provides new insights into the DNA-MNP binding mechanism, and its versatility is of considerable importance for the mechanistic characterization of other DNA-nanoparticle biosensor systems.

MicroRNA Detection through DNAzyme-Mediated Disintegration of Magnetic Nanoparticle Assemblies.

DNA-assembled nanoparticle superstructures offer numerous bioresponsive properties that can be utilized for point-of-care diagnostics. Functional DNA sequences such as deoxyribozymes (DNAzymes) provide novel bioresponsive strategies and further extend the application of DNA-assembled nanoparticle superstructures. In this work, we describe a microRNA detection biosensor that combines magnetic nanoparticle (MNP) assemblies with DNAzyme-assisted target recycling. The DNA scaffolds of the MNP assemblies contain substrate sequences for DNAzyme and can form cleavage catalytic structures in the presence of target DNA or RNA sequences, leading to rupture of the scaffolds and disintegration of the MNP assemblies. The target sequences are preserved during the cleavage reaction and release into the suspension to trigger the digestion of multiple DNA scaffolds. The high local concentration of substrate sequences in the MNP assemblies reduces the diffusion time for target recycling. The concentration of released MNPs, which is proportional to the concentration of the target, can be quantified by a 405 nm laser-based optomagnetic sensor. For the detection of let-7b in 10% serum, after 1 h of isothermal reaction at 50 °C, we found a linear detection range between 10 pM and 100 nM with a limit of detection of 6 pM. For the quantification of DNA target in buffer solution, a limit of detection of 1.5 pM was achieved. Compared to protein enzyme-based microRNA detection methods, the proposed DNAzyme-based biosensor has an increased stability, a reduced cost and a possibility to be used in living cells, all of which are valuable features for biosensing applications.

Ferromagnetic Resonance Biosensor for Homogeneous and Volumetric Detection of DNA.

The ability to detect and analyze the state of magnetic labels with high sensitivity is of crucial importance for developing magnetic biosensors. In this work, we demonstrate, for the first time, a ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) based homogeneous and volumetric biosensor for magnetic label detection. Two different isothermal amplification methods, i.e., rolling circle amplification (RCA) and loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), are adopted and combined with a standard electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrometer for FMR biosensing. For the RCA-based FMR biosensor, binding of RCA products of a synthetic Vibrio cholerae target DNA sequence gives rise to the formation of aggregates of magnetic nanoparticles. Immobilization of nanoparticles within the aggregates leads to a decrease of the net anisotropy of the system and a concomitant increase of the resonance field. A limit of detection of 1 pM is obtained with a linear detection range between 7.8 and 250 pM. For the LAMP-based sensing, a synthetic Zika virus target oligonucleotide is amplified and detected in 20% serum samples. Immobilization of magnetic nanoparticles is induced by their coprecipitation with Mg2P2O7 (a byproduct of LAMP) and provides a detection sensitivity of 100 aM. The fast measurement, high sensitivity, and miniaturization potential of the proposed FMR biosensing technology makes it a promising candidate for designing future point-of-care devices.

On-Particle Rolling Circle Amplification-Based Core-Satellite Magnetic Superstructures for MicroRNA Detection.

Benefiting from the specially tailored properties of the building blocks as well as of the scaffolds, DNA-assembled core-satellite superstructures have gained increasing interest in drug delivery, imaging, and biosensing. The load of satellites plays a vital role in core-satellite superstructures, and it determines the signal intensity in response to a biological/physical stimulation/actuation. Herein, for the first time, we utilize on-particle rolling circle amplification (RCA) to prepare rapidly responsive core-satellite magnetic superstructures with a high load of magnetic nanoparticle (MNP) satellites. Combined with duplex-specific nuclease-assisted target recycling, the proposed magnetic superstructures hold great promise in sensitive and rapid microRNA detection. The long single-stranded DNA produced by RCA serving as the scaffold of the core-satellite superstructure can be hydrolyzed by duplex-specific nuclease in the presence of target microRNA, resulting in a release of MNPs that can be quantified in an optomagnetic sensor. The proposed biosensor has a simple mix-separate-measure strategy. For let-7b detection, the proposed biosensor offers a wide linear detection range of approximately 5 orders of magnitude with a detection sensitivity of 1 fM. Moreover, it has the capability to discriminate single-nucleotide mismatches and to detect let-7b in cell extracts and serum, thus showing considerable potential for clinical applications.

Sequence-specific validation of LAMP amplicons in real-time optomagnetic detection of Dengue serotype 2 synthetic DNA.

We report on an optomagnetic technique optimised for real-time molecular detection of Dengue fever virus under ideal as well as non-ideal laboratory conditions using two different detection approaches. The first approach is based on the detection of the hydrodynamic volume of streptavidin coated magnetic nanoparticles attached to biotinylated LAMP amplicons. We demonstrate detection of sub-femtomolar Dengue DNA target concentrations in the ideal contamination-free lab environment within 20 min. The second detection approach is based on sequence-specific binding of functionalised magnetic nanoparticles to loops of LAMP amplicons. Melting studies reveal that true positive and spurious amplicons have different melting points and this allows us to discriminate between them. This is found to be in a good agreement with subsequent studies on real-time sequence-specific discrimination of LAMP amplicons. The specific binding causes clustering of magnetic nanoparticles via binding to multiple sites (loops) emerging in the elongation phase of LAMP. Formation of nanoclusters is monitored via the depletion of the optomagnetic signal due to free nanoparticles. After sequence-specific validation, we claim detection of down to 100 fM of Dengue target after 20 min of LAMP with a contamination background.

Shape anisotropy enhanced optomagnetic measurement for prostate-specific antigen detection via magnetic chain formation.

We demonstrate a homogeneous biosensor for the detection of multivalent targets by combination of magnetic nanoparticle (MNP) chains and a low-cost 405nm laser-based optomagnetic system. The MNP chains are assembled in a rotating magnetic field and stabilized by multivalent target molecules. The number of chains remaining in zero field is proportional to the target concentration, and can be quantified by optomagnetic measurements. The shape anisotropy of the MNP chains enhances the biosensor system in terms of providing efficient mixing, reduction of depletion effects (via magnetic shape anisotropy), and directly increasing the optomagnetic signal (via optical shape anisotropy). We achieve a limit of detection (LOD) of 5.5pM (0.82ng/mL) for the detection of a model multivalent molecule, biotinylated anti-streptavidin, in PBS. For the measurements of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in 50% serum using the proposed method, we achieve an LOD of 21.6pM (0.65ng/mL) and a dynamic detection range up to 66.7nM (2µg/mL) with a sample-to-result time of approximately 20min. The performance for PSA detection therefore well meets the clinical requirements in terms of LOD (the threshold PSA level in blood is 4ng/mL) and detection range (PSA levels span from < 0.1-104ng/mL in blood), thus showing great promise for routine PSA diagnostics and for other in-situ applications.

Optomagnetic Detection of MicroRNA Based on Duplex-Specific Nuclease-Assisted Target Recycling and Multilayer Core-Satellite Magnetic Superstructures.

Superstructural assembly of magnetic nanoparticles enables approaches to biosensing by combining specially tailored properties of superstructures and the particular advantages associated with a magnetic or optomagnetic read-out such as low background signal, easy manipulation, cost-efficiency, and potential for bioresponsive multiplexing. Herein, we demonstrate a sensitive and rapid miRNA detection method based on optomagnetic read-out, duplex-specific nuclease (DSN)-assisted target recycling, and the use of multilayer core-satellite magnetic superstructures. Triggered by the presence of target miRNA and DSN-assisted target recycling, the core-satellite magnetic superstructures release their "satellites" to the suspension, which subsequently can be quantified accurately in a low-cost and user-friendly optomagnetic setup. Target miRNAs are preserved in the cleaving reaction and can thereby trigger more cleavage and release of "satellites". For singleplex detection of let-7b, a linear detection range between 10 fM and 10 nM was observed, and a detection limit of 4.8 fM was obtained within a total assay time of 70 min. Multiplexing was achieved by releasing nanoparticles of different sizes in the presence of different miRNAs. The proposed method also has the advantages of single-nucleotide mismatch discrimination and the ability of quantification in a clinical sample matrix, thus holding great promise for miRNA routine multiplex diagnostics.

Comparison of optomagnetic and AC susceptibility readouts in a magnetic nanoparticle agglutination assay for detection of C-reactive protein.

There is an increasing need to develop biosensor methods that are highly sensitive and that can be combined with low-cost consumables. The use of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) is attractive because their detection is compatible with low-cost disposables and because application of a magnetic field can be used to accelerate assay kinetics. We present the first study and comparison of the performance of magnetic susceptibility measurements and a newly proposed optomagnetic method. For the comparison we use the C-reactive protein (CRP) induced agglutination of identical samples of 100nm MNPs conjugated with CRP antibodies. Both methods detect agglutination as a shift to lower frequencies in measurements of the dynamics in response to an applied oscillating magnetic field. The magnetic susceptibility method probes the magnetic response whereas the optomagnetic technique probes the modulation of laser light transmitted through the sample. The two techniques provided highly correlated results upon agglutination when they measure the decrease of the signal from the individual MNPs (turn-off detection strategy), whereas the techniques provided different results, strongly depending on the read-out frequency, when detecting the signal due to MNP agglomerates (turn-on detection strategy). These observations are considered to be caused by differences in the volume-dependence of the magnetic and optical signals from agglomerates. The highest signal from agglomerates was found in the optomagnetic signal at low frequencies.

Attomolar Zika virus oligonucleotide detection based on loop-mediated isothermal amplification and AC susceptometry.

Because of the serological cross-reactivity among the flaviviruses, molecular detection methods, such as reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), play an important role in the recent Zika outbreak. However, due to the limited sensitivity, the detection window of RT-PCR for Zika viremia is only about one week after symptom onset. By combining loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) and AC susceptometry, we demonstrate a rapid and homogeneous detection system for the Zika virus oligonucleotide. Streptavidin-magnetic nanoparticles (streptavidin-MNPs) are premixed with LAMP reagents including the analyte and biotinylated primers, and their hydrodynamic volumes are dramatically increased after a successful LAMP reaction. Analyzed by a portable AC susceptometer, the changes of the hydrodynamic volume are probed as Brownian relaxation frequency shifts, which can be used to quantify the Zika virus oligonucleotide. The proposed detection system can recognize 1 aM synthetic Zika virus oligonucleotide in 20% serum with a total assay time of 27min, which can hopefully widen the detection window for Zika viremia and is therefore promising in worldwide Zika fever control.

Blu-ray optomagnetic measurement based competitive immunoassay for Salmonella detection.

A turn-on competitive immunoassay using a low-cost Blu-ray optomagnetic setup and two differently sized magnetic particles (micron-sized particles acting as capture particles and nano-sized particles acting as detection particles) is here presented. For Salmonella detection, a limit of detection of 8×10(4)CFU/mL is achieved within a total assay time of 3h. The combination of a competitive strategy and an optomagnetic setup not only enables a turn-on read-out format, but also results in a sensitivity limit about a factor of 20 times lower than of volumetric magnetic stray field detection device based immunoassays. The improvement of sensitivity is enabled by the formation of immuno-magnetic aggregates providing steric hindrance protecting the interior binding sites from interaction with the magnetic nanoparticle labels. The formation of immuno-magnetic aggregates is confirmed by fluorescence microscopy. The system exhibits no visible cross-reaction with other common pathogenic bacteria, even at concentrations as high as 10(7)CFU/mL. Furthermore, we present results when using the setup for a qualitative and homogeneous biplex immunoassay of Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium.

Magnetophoretic Transport Line System for Rapid On-Chip Attomole Protein Detection.

A lab-on-a-chip traveling wave magnetophoresis approach for sensitive and rapid protein detection is reported. In this method, a chip-based magnetic microarray comprising lines of micrometer-sized thin film magnetic elements was used to control the movement of magnetic beads (MBs). The MBs and the chip were functionalized, forming a sandwich-type assay. The MBs were transported across a detection area, and the presence of target molecules resulted in the immobilization of MBs within this area. Target quantification was accomplished by MB counting in the detection area using an optical microscope. In order to demonstrate the versatility of the microarray, biotinylated antiavidin was selected as the target protein. In this case, avidin-functionalized MBs and an avidin-functionalized detection area were used. With a total assay time of 1 to 1.5 h (depending on the labeling approach used), a limit of detection in the attomole range was achieved. Compared to on-chip surface plasmon resonance biodetection systems, our method has a larger dynamic range and is about a factor of 500 times more sensitive. Furthermore, our MB transportation system can operate in any chip-based biosensor platform, thereby significantly improving traditional biosensors.

Turn-on optomagnetic bacterial DNA sequence detection using volume-amplified magnetic nanobeads.

Detection of a Vibrio cholerae DNA-sequence using an optomagnetic read-out exploiting the dynamic behavior of magnetic nanobeads along with two turn-on data analysis approaches is demonstrated. The optomagnetic method uses a weak uniaxial AC magnetic field of varying frequency applied perpendicular to the optical path and measures the modulation of laser light passing through a cuvette containing the sample with oligonucleotide-tagged magnetic beads and macromolecular coils of single-stranded DNA. The DNA coils are formed upon a padlock probe ligation followed by rolling circle amplification (RCA). The presence of target gives rise to a change of the 2nd harmonic component, V2=V2(')+iV2(''), of the transmitted light. We demonstrate that by using the phase angle ξ defined as ξ=arctanV2(')/V2('') in the low-frequency region we obtain a limit of detection of 10pM for an RCA time of only 20min corresponding to a total assay time of 60min. Moreover, we show that the approach based on ξ is significantly more robust than the analysis based on a turn-off of the signal due to free magnetic nanobeads used in previous work (Donolato et al., submitted for publication), where a limit of detection of 10pM was obtained for an RCA time of 60min. The increased robustness and the reduction in total assay time constitute significant steps towards the realization of a low-cost, rapid and sensitive biosensor platform suitable for pathogen detection in both human and veterinary medicine settings.

Optomagnetic read-out enables easy, rapid, and cost-efficient qualitative biplex detection of bacterial DNA sequences.

There is an increasing need to develop novel bioassay methods for low-cost, rapid, and easy-to-use multiplex detection of pathogens in various fields ranging from human infectious disease diagnosis, drinking water quality control, to food safety applications. Due to their unique advantages, magnetic and optomagnetic bioassay principles are particularly promising for biodetection platforms that will be used in developing countries. In this paper, an optomagnetic method for rapid and cost-efficient qualitative biplex detection of bacterial DNA sequences is demonstrated. Within less than two hours, the assay gives an answer to whether none, both, or only one of the bacterial DNA sequences is present in the sample. The assay relies on hybridization of oligonucleotide-functionalized magnetic nanobeads of two different sizes to rolling circle amplification (RCA) products originating from two different bacterial targets. The different bead sizes are equipped with different oligonucleotide probes, complementary to only one of the RCA products, and the read-out is carried out in the same sample volume. In an optomagnetic setup, the frequency modulation of transmitted laser light in response to an applied AC magnetic field is measured. The presented methodology is potentially interesting for low-cost screening of pathogens relating to both human and veterinary medicine in resource-poor regions of the world.

Novel readout method for molecular diagnostic assays based on optical measurements of magnetic nanobead dynamics.

We demonstrate detection of DNA coils formed from a Vibrio cholerae DNA target at picomolar concentrations using a novel optomagnetic approach exploiting the dynamic behavior and optical anisotropy of magnetic nanobead (MNB) assemblies. We establish that the complex second harmonic optical transmission spectra of MNB suspensions measured upon application of a weak uniaxial AC magnetic field correlate well with the rotation dynamics of the individual MNBs. Adding a target analyte to the solution leads to the formation of permanent MNB clusters, namely, to the suppression of the dynamic MNB behavior. We prove that the optical transmission spectra are highly sensitive to the formation of permanent MNB clusters and, thereby to the target analyte concentration. As a specific clinically relevant diagnostic case, we detect DNA coils formed via padlock probe recognition and isothermal rolling circle amplification and benchmark against a commercial equipment. The results demonstrate the fast optomagnetic readout of rolling circle products from bacterial DNA utilizing the dynamic properties of MNBs in a miniaturized and low-cost platform requiring only a transparent window in the chip.

On-chip detection of rolling circle amplified DNA molecules from Bacillus globigii spores and Vibrio cholerae.

For the first time DNA coils formed by rolling circle amplification are quantified on-chip by Brownian relaxation measurements on magnetic nanobeads using a magnetoresistive sensor. No external magnetic fields are required besides the magnetic field arising from the current through the sensor, which makes the setup very compact. Limits of detection down to 500 Bacillus globigii spores and 2 pM of Vibrio cholerae are demonstrated, which are on the same order of magnitude or lower than those achieved previously using a commercial macro-scale AC susceptometer. The chip-based readout is an important step towards the realization of field tests based on rolling circle amplification molecular analyses.

A magnetic nanobead-based bioassay provides sensitive detection of single- and biplex bacterial DNA using a portable AC susceptometer.

Bioassays relying on magnetic read-out using probe-tagged magnetic nanobeads are potential platforms for low-cost biodiagnostic devices for pathogen detection. For optimal assay performance it is crucial to apply an easy, efficient and robust bead-probe conjugation protocol. In this paper, sensitive (1.5 pM) singleplex detection of bacterial DNA sequences is demonstrated in a portable AC susceptometer by a magnetic nanobead-based bioassay principle; the volume-amplified magnetic nanobead detection assay (VAM-NDA). Two bead sizes, 100 and 250 nm, are investigated along with a highly efficient, rapid, robust, and stable conjugation chemistry relying on the avidin-biotin interaction for bead-probe attachment. Avidin-biotin conjugation gives easy control of the number of detection probes per bead; thus allowing for systematic investigation of the impact of varying the detection probe surface coverage upon bead immobilization in rolling circle amplified DNA-coils. The existence of an optimal surface coverage is discussed. Biplex VAM-NDA detection is for the first time demonstrated in the susceptometer: Semi-quantitative results are obtained and it is concluded that the concentration of DNA-coils in the incubation volume is of crucial importance for target quantification. The present findings bring the development of commercial biodiagnostic devices relying on the VAM-NDA further towards implementation in point-of-care and outpatient settings.

Bead magnetorelaxometry with an on-chip magnetoresistive sensor.

Magnetorelaxometry measurements on suspensions of magnetic beads are demonstrated using a planar Hall effect sensor chip embedded in a microfluidic system. The alternating magnetic field used for magnetizing the beads is provided by the sensor bias current and the complex magnetic susceptibility spectra are recorded as the 2nd harmonic of the sensor response. The complex magnetic susceptibility signal appears when a magnetic bead suspension is injected, it scales with the bead concentration, and it follows the Cole-Cole expression for Brownian relaxation. The complex magnetic susceptibility signal resembles that from conventional magnetorelaxometry done on the same samples apart from an offset in Brownian relaxation frequency. The time dependence of the signal can be rationalized as originating from sedimented beads.

Sensitive detection of bacterial DNA by magnetic nanoparticles.

This work presents sensitive detection of bacterial genomic DNA using a magnetic nanoparticle-based substrate-free method. For the first time, such a method is employed for detection of a clinically relevant analyte by implementing a solid-phase-based molecular probing and amplification protocol that can be executed in 80 min. The molecular detection and amplification protocol is presented and verified on samples containing purified genomic DNA from Escherichia coli cells, showing that as few as 50 bacteria can be detected. This study moves the use of volume-amplified magnetic nanoparticles one step further toward rapid, sensitive, and selective infectious diagnostics.

Real-space transmission electron microscopy investigations of attachment of functionalized magnetic nanoparticles to DNA-coils acting as a biosensor.

The present work provides the first real-space analysis of nanobead-DNA coil interactions. Immobilization of oligonucleotide-functionalized magnetic nanobeads in rolling circle amplified DNA-coils was studied by complex magnetization measurements and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and a statistical analysis of the number of beads hybridized to the DNA-coils was performed. The average number of beads per DNA-coil using the results from both methods was found to be around 6 and slightly above 2 for samples with 40 and 130 nm beads, respectively. The TEM analysis supported an earlier hypothesis that 40 nm beads are preferably immobilized in the interior of DNA-coils whereas 130 nm beads, to a larger extent, are immobilized closer to the exterior of the coils. The methodology demonstrated in the present work should open up new possibilities for characterization of interactions of a large variety of functionalized nanoparticles with macromolecules, useful for gaining more fundamental understanding of such interactions as well as for optimizing a number of biosensor applications.

Investigation of immobilization of functionalized magnetic nanobeads in rolling circle amplified DNA coils.

Immobilization characteristics for single-stranded oligonucleotide-functionalized magnetic beads with nominal sizes of 40, 80, 130, and 250 nm in rolling circle amplified (RCA) DNA coils is investigated by employing complex magnetization measurements, dynamic light scattering and fluorescence microscopy. It was found that larger beads in a polydisperse bead size distribution more easily immobilize in the RCA DNA coils than do smaller beads. This may be related to a higher oligonucleotide surface coverage for the larger beads. Furthermore, it was concluded that both bead size and oligonucleotide surface coverage determine whether beads immobilize to give isolated coils with beads or larger clusters of beads and coils. A small bead size and a low oligonucleotide surface coverage favor the first kind of immobilization behavior, whereas a large bead size and a high oligonucleotide surface coverage favor the other. The present findings could be used to optimize both size and surface functionalization of beads employed in substrate-free magnetic biosensors.