Elastic Light Scattering of Biopolymer/Gold Nanoparticles Fractal Aggregates

Abstract

From the interface of biotechnology and nanotechnology are emerging innovative analytical tools for the detection and characterization of nucleic acids, proteins, and protein interactions. This chapter addresses the development and application of a technique that combines angle-dependent light scattering (ADLS), fractal dimension analysis (FD), and gold nanoparticle assembly to detect and characterize nucleic acids and proteins. We will show that specific DNA or protein interactions trigger the assembly of Au-biopolymer fractal aggregates. The angle-resolved light-scattering signal from these aggregates can be used to determine their fractal dimension which is found to be sensitive to concentration, size, shape, and physical properties of both the biopolymers and the nanoparticles forming the aggregates [1, 2].