A Novel Inductive Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry Gene Detection Method Based on AuNPs and Bio-Barcode Signal Amplification

An inductive coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) method based on gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and bio-barcode signal amplification was presented for the sensitive detection of gastric cancer related gene. The target DNA, magnetic nanoprobes and SiO2/AuNPs barcode probes were hybridized to form a "sandwich" structure, then a large amount of AuNPs which were amplified by bio-barcode technology were detected by ICP-MS. This method presented a limit of detection as low as 1 fM. The ratio of the background-subtracted 197 Au signals for totally complementary DNA, single-base mismatched DNA, double-base mismatched DNA and totally mismatched DNA was 115:30:16:1, respectively. It's suggested that the complementary and mismatched DNA can be distinguished clearly. This novel ICP-MS biosensor is prospective in DNA detection with high sensitivity and specificity.