Quantum Dot-Based Biosensor for the Detection of Human T-Lymphotropic Virus-1

A method was developed to identify human T-lymphotropic virus-1 (HTLV-1) using cadmium–tellurium quantum dots. Two probes including the biotin-labeled acceptor and NH2-reporter probes with target DNA were hybridized. The resulted sandwich complex was immobilized on a well containing streptavidin. The quantum dot solution was added to the sandwich complex, conjugated with the amine group of reporter probe, and emission spectra of the quantum dots were recorded. The biosensor response was linear with HTLV-1 concentrations from 10 pg/µl to 0.24?ng/µl, with a detection limit of 19.5 pg/µl. The assay may be successfully used for detection of long nucleic acids.