A novel dual-mode magnetic Fe3O4 nanoclusters was developed that exhibit efficient photothermal conversion and superparamagnetism. The particles served as numerous ‘nanoheaters’ in a PCR reaction mixture while enabling effective magnetic-based macromolecular manipulation. The thermal transfer between particles and adjacent water and DNA molecules thus become extremely efficient because of molecular-level proximity and allowed rapid amplification cycle progression. The defective mitochondrial DNA from cybrid cell lines of a patient with chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia syndrome was efficaciously quantified by fluorescence intensity detection. Our finding provides new insight into rapid and accurate quantitative DNA diagnostics for future point-of-care applications.
- Tsung-Ju Li
- Chen-Min Chang
- Dar-Bin Shieh
