Real-time multicolor DNA detection with chemoresponsive diffraction gratings and nanoparticle probes

A real-time deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) detection method that uses single-strand DNA (ssDNA)-modified nanoparticle probes and micropatterned chemoresponsive diffraction gratings interrogated simultaneously at multiple laser wavelengths is presented. Significant signal amplification is observed due to the use of nanoparticle probe, which is heavily functionalized with ssDNA complementary to target DNA.