Speaker: Emigdio Reyes
Candidate for Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry
Time: 3:15 PM
Place: Trustee Hall 118
Supervisor: Dr. Eamonn Healy
Title: Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) of Thiol-Capped Oligonucleotide Probes.

Abstract: The research involves the preparation of silver, gold, and non-alloyed Ag/Au nanoparticles and the investigation of their physical and optical properties using Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS). After characterization, the nanoparticles are modified using thiol-capped oligonucleotides. These modifications give the nanoparticles useful biorecognition properties that can be utilized in the detection of genetic traits. We hope to use the modified naniparticles in conjunction with SERS to create an efficient method for the detection of single nucleotide polymorphism in a DNA sequence. First, the oligonucleotide anchored to the nanoparticle serves as a probe that hybridizes with the normal, non-mutated DNA sequence in study. After this complex is formed, its physical and optical properties are studied using SERS and also looking at the change in color produced by the formation of the complex. Once this technique is well developed, the research will move on to the application of this technique in the detection of single nucleotide polymorphism in genetic traits such as Sickle Cell Anemia.