NANOPARTICLES HAVING OLIGONUCLEOTIDES ATTACHED THERETO AND USES THEREFOR

摘要

The invention provides methods and kits for detecting nucleic acids. The methods employ particles and substrates having oligonucleotides attached to them. The presence of a nucleic acid produces a detectable change, such as a change in color, conductivity, or optical density. The invention further provides a method of synthesizing unique nanoparticle-oligonucleotide conjugates, the conjugates produced by the method, kits comprising the conjugates, nanomaterials and nanostructures comprising the conjugates, and methods of using the conjugates.