There is a keen interest in developing techniques for rapid genetic analysis that do not require labeling of an analyte. I work on a label-free DNA biosensor in a micro array format based on molecular beacon hybridization geometry on gold substrate. A confocal optical imaging system was used for detecting the fluorescence signal from the DNA chip.

Fig.1: Operation of Au-immobilized molecular beacon. Left:CCD image prehybridization; Right:CCD image posthybridization

Fig. 2: Digital camera images of the chip before and after hybridization with complementary targets.