Highly stable, amphiphilic DNA-encoded nanoparticle conjugates for DNA encoding/decoding applications

We synthesized highly stable, amphiphilic polymer-protected DNA–Au nanoparticle conjugates (DNA–AuNPs) and developed a DNA encoding/decoding strategy using these particles. Here, DNA–AuNPs were encapsulated by amphiphilic poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) (PVP) to make them more stable and soluble in both organic and aqueous solvents. These particles are stable in a wide range of salt concentrations, pH and temperatures and sustain their stability even after the addition of D,L-dithiothreitol. Finally, this polymer layer was readily removed and particle-modified DNA was decoded via the microarrayed chip and dark-field-based AuNP imaging technique.