Development of an SH-SAW sensor for detection of DNA immobilization and hybridization

Abstract

We have developed SH (shear horizontal) surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensors for detection of the immobilization and hybrdization of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) on the gold coated delay line of transverse SAW devices. The experiments of DNA immobilization and hybridization were performed with 15-mer oligonucleotides (probe and complementary target DNA). The sensor consists of twin SAW delay line oscillators (sensing channel and reference channel) operating at 100 MHz fabricated on 36˚ rotated Y-cut X-propagation LiTaO 3 piezoelectric single crystals. The relative change in the frequency of the two oscillators was monitored to detect the immobilization of probe DNA with thiol group on the Au coated delay line and the hybridization between target DNA and immobilized probe DNA in a pH 7.4 PBS (phosphate buffered saline) solution. The measurement results showed a good response of the sensor to the mass loading effects of the DNA immobilization and hybridization with the sensitivity up to 1.5 ng/ml/Hz.