Optical detection of deoxyribonucleic acid hybridization using an anchoring transition of liquid crystal alignment

We demonstrate an optical method for detecting specific binding events in an oligo deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) chip using an anchoring transition of a nematic liquid crystal (NLC) as a result of DNA hybridization. A homeotropic orientation of the NLC supported by oligoDNA changes to a random planar orientation after hybridization. Such DNA hybridization and subsequent NLC reorientation are easily observable with a simple detection system via long-range orientational order and large optical anisotropy of the NLC.