Synthetic LNA/DNA nano-scaffolds for highly efficient diagnostics of nucleic acids and autoimmune antibodies

Herein novel fluorescent oligonucleotides for homogeneous (all-in-solution) detection of nucleic acids and autoimmune antibodies (autoantibodies) are described. The probes are prepared by highly efficient copper-catalyzed click chemistry between novel alkyne-modified locked nucleic acid (LNA) strands and a series of fluorescent azides. The multiply labeled fluorescent LNA/DNA probes prepared herein generally display high binding affinity to complementary DNA/RNA, high quantum yields and, hence, high fluorescence brightness values. With the novel fluorescent probes, specific sensing of the monoclonal human autoantibody is achieved. It makes the novel "clickable" LNA/DNA complexes a very promising tool in molecular diagnostics of both nucleic acids and autoantibodies against DNA. The latter are produced under several autoimmune conditions including antiphospholipide syndrome and systemic lupus erythematosus.