Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) assay using reversible association and dispersion of DNA-linked colloidal nanoparticles.

The amphiphilic copolymer consisting of oligodeoxyribonucleotide (ODN; dT12) as the hydrophilic part and thermo-responsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (polyNIPAAm) as the hydrophobic part was prepared. The copolymers formed DNA-linked colloidal nanoparticles above the phase transition temperature of polyNIPAAm part. The nanoparticles aggregated rapidly when the complementary ODN (dA12) was added into the dispersion. In contrast, they kept dispersed in the absence of the complementary ODN and in the presence of the point-mutated ODN ((dA6)dT(dA5)). These distinct phenomena may be applied for an oligonucleotides discrimination system in gene diagnosis.