DNA probes containing solvatochromic fluorescent tags

Lead Research Organisation: University of Birmingham
Department Name: School of Chemistry

Abstract

I wish to be attached to the Tucker group, where I undertook my masters project. The group's research comprises of modified DNA and DNA sensing. The group have developed an anthracene DNA sensor for the detection of SNPs. Following on from this work, the project of interest to me consists of developing naphthalimide tagged DNA as a sensor to detect cancer cells. The sensor will be quantitative, detecting the percentage of changed bases, which is important for determining whether the cell is cancerous. Fluorescence will be monitored by UV absorption and TM studies, techniques which I am familiar with after performing them throughout my masters project. These sensors have exciting possibilities to be used clinically, removing cancerous tissue during operations. The cancerous tissue would fluoresce allowing easy excision from the surrounding healthy tissue.

Publications

10 25 50

Studentship Projects

Project Reference Relationship Related To Start End Student Name
EP/N509590/1 01/10/2016 30/09/2021
1947182 Studentship EP/N509590/1 01/10/2017 15/05/2021 Georgina Leck
 
Description The development of a DNA probe containing a fluorescent reporter group that can detect single mutations within DNA. The use of a solvatochromatic fluorophore advances on previous literature and provides additional sensing benefits to those many fluorescent DNA probes already studied. It has been shown that single DNA mutation can be detected via changes in fluorescence intensity and colour changes. These probes are also being developed for imaging techniques such as fluorescence in-situ hybridisation and DNA paint.
Exploitation Route The DNA sensing work resulting from this project has applications as a genetic testing assay. Many single DNA mutations are routinely checked in clinics.
Sectors Healthcare,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology