Development of a DNA probe and anisotropic films with an emphasis on self -assembly and fluorescence

Fundamental principles for the design of a nucleic acid probe were studied. Successful models of a three-component system utilizing fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) as the signal transduction mechanism and a stem-loop with universal reporter system based on photon-induced electron transfer (PIET) were established. The stem-loop model exhibited quenched fluorescent emission in the absence of a "target" molecule but significant increase in emission when the "target" was present.;Concurrently, design and synthesis of naphthalene and perylene-based analogs led to the production of fluorophores that absorb and emit at a range of different wavelengths. The fluorescent properties of these compounds in solution phase and solid films were characterized and compared.;Further, the design and preparation of self-assembled monolayers on gold of thiols containing different termination groups were performed. The studies of these monolayers provided a basis for understanding the effects of microenvironment changes on flavin redox potential. The redox potential of the flavin analogs in these self-assembled monolayers was determined by cyclic voltammetry and the dependence of redox potential on pH was investigated.