Sensor device and method for label-free detection of double strand nucleotides

Abstract

A sensor device which is adapted for detecting target molecules having a target nucleic acid sequence located in nano/micro channels, comprises a THz source for exciting the target molecules and a heterodyne interferometer, having a detection frequency MHz, for probing the excited molecules. The nano-channel array in the sample holder is functionalized with electric field to linearize the target alleles and genes. The linearized molecules are exposed to THz field whereby the different vibrational modes of base pairs are resonantly excited. The excitation of base-breathing mode and base-shifting mode leads to differential induced dipole moments along and perpendicular to the double helix axis. This induced asymmetry in polarizability leads to optical anisotropy. The dipole-dipole interaction between adjacent bases affects polarizability along the helix axis and hence the intrinsic molecular anisotropy is a function of number of base pairs in the strand. The resulting birefringence can be measured using the heterodyne interferometer as a function of changes in the number of base pairs in the strand. Furthermore, a sensing method for detecting birefringence in terms of phase shift of the MHz signal, as a function of target molecule size, is described.