Molecular diagnostic probe is a probe that uses specific nucleic acid or protein molecules to target substances (such as pathogens, tumor markers, genetic variants, etc.) to produce detectable signals (such as fluorescence, electrochemistry, mass spectrometry, etc.). Molecular diagnostic probe thermodynamics refers to a discipline that studies the thermodynamic properties (such as free energy, enthalpy, entropy, etc.) of the binding or reaction between molecular diagnostic probe and the target material, which can be used to evaluate the stability, sensitivity and specificity of molecular diagnostic probe. The thermodynamics and clinical application studies have the following advantages:

Molecular diagnostic probe thermodynamics and clinical application research can use the high sensitivity, high selectivity, rapid analysis and no damage of molecular diagnostic probes to realize the detection or imaging of various clinically relevant substances.

Molecular diagnostic probe thermodynamics and clinical application research can use different signal types of molecular diagnostic probe (such as fluorescence, electrochemistry, mass spectrometry, etc.) to achieve multi-signal, multi-parameter, multifunctional and multi-level detection or imaging of the target material.

Molecular diagnostic probe thermodynamics and clinical applications can use different types of templates or ligands to modify or doping molecular diagnostic probes to regulate the structure and performance of molecular diagnostic probes, thus improving the efficiency and specificity of detection or imaging.

Case study of the thermodynamics and clinical application of molecular diagnostic probes:

The molecular diagnostic probe of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) technology can realize the detection of lung cancer-related gene mutations (EGFR L858R). The probe uses a gold electrode modified with iron ferricyanide (Fe (CN) 6 3 / 4) nanoparticles as EIS signal source and a gold nanoparticle containing EGFR L858R-specific oligonucleotide as EIS signal probe to achieve the detection of EGFR L858R gene mutations. The probe uses the EIS technique to generate electrochemical signals with different impedance values for quantitative analysis of EGFR L858R gene mutations. The probe has high sensitivity, selectivity and stability, with a linear range of 0.1 – 100 nM and a limit of detection of 0.05 nM.

The molecular diagnostic probe of mass spectrometry technology can realize the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mycobacterium tuberculosis, MTB). The probe utilizes an oligonucleotide containing MTB specific primers and fluorescent tag as the MS signal source and an oligonucleotide containing MTB specific primers and magnetic nanoparticles for amplification and detection of MTB DNA sequences as the MS signal probe. The probe uses MS spectrometry to generate MS signals with different MS-charge ratios to achieve qualitative or quantitative analysis of MTB. The probe has high sensitivity, high selectivity, and rapid response with a detection limit of 10 fg / μ L.

Reference Documentation:

[1]Clinical Chemistry, Volume 43, Issue 11, 1 November 1997, Pages 2021–2038, https://doi.org/10.1093/clinchem/43.11.2021.

[2]Molecular Diagnostics in the Medical Laboratory in Real Time.