Content

1. Background Information
2. Motivation
3. Objectives

Background Information

It is well-believe that early detection of disease can raise the chances for successful treatment. Many diseases like cancer are caused by genetic alterations in certain genes. In this aspect, genetic analysis provides the opportunity to detect disease-associated genes or even predict diseases before the onset of physical changes in the cells. Significant progress in genomics research has been make in the past decade. Many disease-related mutations or genetic markers have been identified, and at the same time, numerous genetic analysis methods have been developed. Still, simple but highly sensitive detection methods of miKRNA (and/or DNA) facilitate the early disease diagnosis and so increase the chance of recovery.

Motivation

Existing methods of miRNA detection are mainly based on PCR, microarray, Northern blotting, and solid-phase hybridization Techniques. However, detection of miRNA with high sensitivity still remains a great challenge.

Objectives

1. To develop a biotin-functionalized beta-amyloid fibril by co-incubating monomeric native and biotinylated Aβ.
2. To develop a bio-sensor by adding biotinylated DNA probe on the fibril using biotin-streptavidin conjugation.
3. To evaluate the potential of our sensor for sensitive and high-throughput DNA detection.
4. To label the fibrils with different types of streptavidin conjugate Qdots (different emissive colors) to achieve multiplex detection.