Appl. Sci. 2012, 2(2), 303-314; doi:10.3390/app2020303
Article

Effects of Superparamagnetic Nanoparticle Clusters on the Polymerase Chain Reaction

Toshiaki Higashi* email, Hiroaki Minegishiemail, Yutaka Nagaokaemail, Takahiro Fukudaemail, Akinobu Echigoemail, Ron Usamiemail, Toru Maekawaemail and Tatsuro Hanajiriemail
Bio-Nano Electronics Research Centre, Toyo University, 2100 Kujirai, Kawagoe, Saitama 350-8585, Japan
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 16 February 2012; in revised form: 19 March 2012 / Accepted: 23 March 2012 / Published: 2 April 2012
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Magnetic Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Properties and Applications)
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Abstract: The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method is widely used for the reproduction and amplification of specific DNA segments, and a novel PCR method using nanomaterials such as gold nanoparticles has recently been reported. This paper reports on the effects of superparamagnetic nanoparticles on PCR amplification without an external magnetic field, and clarifies the mechanism behind the effects of superparamagnetic particle clusters on PCR efficiency by estimating the structures of such clusters in PCR. It was found that superparamagnetic nanoparticles tend to inhibit PCR amplification depending on the structure of the magnetic nanoparticle clusters. The paper also clarifies that Taq polymerase is captured in the spaces formed among magnetic nanoparticle clusters, and that it is captured more efficiently as a result of their motion from heat treatment in PCR thermal cycles. Consequently, Taq polymerase that should be used in PCR is reduced in the PCR solution. These outcomes will be applied to novel PCR techniques using magnetic particles in an external magnetic field.
Keywords: magnetic nanoparticle; superparamagnetic; DNA; polymerase chain reaction; Taq polymerase

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Cite This Article

MDPI and ACS Style

Higashi, T.; Minegishi, H.; Nagaoka, Y.; Fukuda, T.; Echigo, A.; Usami, R.; Maekawa, T.; Hanajiri, T. Effects of Superparamagnetic Nanoparticle Clusters on the Polymerase Chain Reaction. Appl. Sci. 2012, 2, 303-314.

AMA Style

Higashi T, Minegishi H, Nagaoka Y, Fukuda T, Echigo A, Usami R, Maekawa T, Hanajiri T. Effects of Superparamagnetic Nanoparticle Clusters on the Polymerase Chain Reaction. Applied Sciences. 2012; 2(2):303-314.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Higashi, Toshiaki; Minegishi, Hiroaki; Nagaoka, Yutaka; Fukuda, Takahiro; Echigo, Akinobu; Usami, Ron; Maekawa, Toru; Hanajiri, Tatsuro. 2012. "Effects of Superparamagnetic Nanoparticle Clusters on the Polymerase Chain Reaction." Appl. Sci. 2, no. 2: 303-314.

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