Nanomaterials-based Polymerase Chain Reactions for DNA Detection

A range of nanometer-sized materials such as metal nanoparticles, semiconductor quantum dots, metal oxide nanostructures, carbon nanomaterials and polymer nanoparticles, have been introduced into polymerase chain reactions (PCR). They have shown to remarkably improve PCR amplification in sensitivity, specificity and extension rate. In this review, we will try to describe the development of nanomaterials-based PCR, including the types of nanomaterials, optimization of properties and mechanisms. In particular, several mechanisms have been introduced in view of special physical and chemical properties of nanomaterials.