Label free analysis of nucleic acids

Abstract

A method is provided for label free analysis of nucleic acid materials. In accordance with the present invention, a fluorescent material is provided having a certain fluorescence emission without nucleic acids attached thereto. The fluorescent material of the present invention, has a greater emission upon the binding of a single stranded nucleic acid and an even greater emission upon the binding of a double stranded nucleic acid allowing detection of double stranded binding without using a label attached to the DNA.

1 . A method for detecting label free analysis of nucleic acid binding, said method comprising the steps of
 providing a fluorescent polymeric matrix having a first fluorescent emission intensity;   attaching a single stranded DNA or RNA species to said fluorescent matrix to provide a second, greater fluorescent intensity; and   hybridizing said single stranded RNA or DNA to a homologous nucleic acid, causing a further increase in said fluorescent intensity, allowing detection of said hybridization of said homologous nucleic acids.