A mixed film composed of oligonucleotides and poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) brushes to enhance selectivity for detection of single nucleotide polymorphisms

Preliminary studies of mixed films composed of oligonucleotides and poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) have recently been shown to enhance the selectivity for detection of 3 base-pair mismatched (3 bpm) oligonucleotide targets. Evaluation of selectivity for detection of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) using such mixed films has now been completed. The selectivity was quantitatively determined by considering the sharpness of melt curves and melting temperature differences (ΔTm) for fully complementary targets and SNPs. Stringency conditions were investigated, and it was determined that the selectivity was maximized when a moderate ionic strength was used (0.1–0.6 M). Increases of ΔTm when using mixed films were up to 3-fold larger compared to surfaces containing only immobilized oligonucleotide probes. Concurrently, increases in sharpness of melt curves for 1 bpm targets were observed to be up to 2-fold greater for mixed films. The co-immobilization of PHEMA resulted in a more homogeneous distribution of oligonucleotide probes on surfaces. Lifetime measurements of fluorescence emission from immobilized oligonucleotide probes labeled with Cy3 dye indicated the difference in microenvironment of immobilized oligonucleotides in the presence of PHEMA.