Simple and sensitive assay for nucleic acids by use of the resonance light-scattering technique with copper phthalocyanine tetrasulfonic acid in the presence of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide

On the basis of enhancement of resonance light scattering (RLS) of copper phthalocyanine tetrasulfonic acid (CuTSPc) by nucleic acids and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTMAB) under suitable conditions, a new RLS method for determination of nucleic acids in aqueous solutions has been developed. At pH 9.80-10.95 and ionic strength 0.01 mol L(-1) (NaCl), the interaction of copper phthalocyanine tetrasulfonic acid with nucleic acids in the presence of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide results in enhanced RLS signals at 282.0 nm, 383.6 nm, and 616.2 nm in the enhanced regions. It was found that the enhanced RLS intensity at 383.6 nm was proportional to the concentration of nucleic acids within suitable ranges. The limits of detection were 10.6 ng mL(-1) for fish sperm DNA and 32.4 ng mL(-1) for calf thymus DNA when the concentration of copper phthalocyanine tetrasulfonic acid was 2.0 x 10(-6) mol L(-1). This method is rapid, simple and sensitive. In addition, the reagents used are relatively inexpensive, stable, and easily synthesised. The method can be applied to the determination of nucleic acids in the presence of coexisting substances, and we have applied it to the determination of DNA in synthetic samples, with satisfactory results.