Sensitive Determination of DNA by Resonance Light Scattering with Pentamethoxyl Red

A novel sensitive method for the determination of nucleic acid (DNA) using the resonance light scattering (RLS) spectra of pentamethoxyl red has been developed. It is based on the effects on the resonance light scattering of Pentamethoxyl Red. The effective factors and the optimum conditions were studied, and the enhanced intensity of RLS is in proportion to the concentration of nucleic acids in the range of 0–2.54 µg mL⁻¹ for ct-DNA, 0–4.54 µg mL⁻¹ for hs-DNA. The limits of detection are 1.1 and 2.1 ng mL⁻¹, respectively. Most foreign substances do not interfere in the determination, and the method has good selectivity and high sensitivity. It has been applied to the determination of DNA in synthetic samples and in real samples with satisfactory results.