Selective immobilization of double stranded DNA on a gold surface through threading intercalation of a naphthalene diimide having dithiolane moieties

Newly synthesized naphthalene diimide 1 having two dithiolane moieties at its substituted termini bound to double stranded DNA by threading intercalation and the resulting complex was immobilized on the gold surface through a dithiolane-gold linkage as revealed by quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) experiments. DNA with 20-meric double stranded and 24-meric single stranded regions was indirectly immobilized on the gold electrode using this characteristic of 1. Hybridization efficiency was 92%, a value higher than 50% for a thiolated oligonucleotide under identical conditions. When this electrode was subjected to hybridization with a 124-meric target DNA in the presence of ferrocenylnaphthalene diimide (FND) as an electrochemical hybridization indicator, a large current increase was observed deriving from FND bound in the double stranded region newly formed between the probe and target DNA.     

Electrochemical Aberrant Methylation Detection Based on Ferrocenyl Naphthalene Diimide Carrying β‐Cyclodextrin,FNC

Electrochemical detection of the specific gene carrying aberrant methylated cytosine was achieved by ferrocenyl naphthalene diimide carrying β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD), FNC, coupled with the probe‐DNA‐immobilized electrode. The five CpG sites in a 24‐base sequence were selected as the target DNA on the CDH4 gene, which is associated with colorectal cancer. When methylated and unmethylated samples hybridized with the DNA probe (HS‐M24) immobilized on the electrode, an increased current signal was observed in the electrolyte containing FNC and correlated with the amount of target DNA. Furthermore, an increase in current (115 %) was observed when the PCR product of 105 bp was hybridized on the HS‐M24‐immobilized electrode, whereas a background level of current increase was observed in the case of unmethylated product. Such large discrimination ability might be due to the inter‐ and/or intra‐complex formation of ferrocene with β‐CD of FNC on the surface of the electrode.     

Naphthalene Diimide Carrying Two Cysteine Termini at Both Imide Linkers as a Molecular Staple

Naphthalene diimide ( 1 ) carrying cysteines at the termini of amide substituents were synthesized to act as a molecular staple of double stranded DNA. Since 1 is able to bind to double stranded DNA with threading intercalation, the complex of 1 with double stranded DNA can be topologically immobilized on a gold surface through the S? Au linkage as confirmed by cyclic voltammetric experiment. Ferrocenyl‐double stranded 23‐mertic oligonucleotide, dsFcODN, was immobilized on gold electrode with 1.0×10¹² molecules cm^?2 when electrode was treated with 2.0 µM dsFcODN and 4.0 µM 1 for 1 h at room temperature. The coverage density was similar to that obtained for the terminal thiol‐modified oligonucleotide. Compound 1 was applied to detect the 321‐meric PCR product of P. gingivalis, which is important in the diagnosis of periodontal disease. This experiment, coupled with the use of ferrocenylnaphthalene diimide, FND as electrochemical indicator for double stranded DNA, resulted in quantitative detection of PCR product within the range of 10 pg µL^?1–10 ng µL^?1 (15 nM–15 µM). The 1 and FND established a simple and rapid detection method of double stranded PCR product with a detection limit of 10 pg µL^?1 (15 nM).     

Genotyping of the human lipoprotein lipase gene by ferrocenylnaphthalene diimide-based electrochemical hybridization assay.

A ferrocenylnaphthalene diimide (FND)-based electrochemical hybridization assay (FND-EHA) was applied to the detection of two mutations in human lipoprotein lipase (LPL) gene, G188E (one base transition) and Arita (one base deletion). A probe oligodeoxyribonucleotide of 13 bases representing the wild type (WT) sequence of LPL was immobilized on a gold electrode, followed by hybridization with a sample PCR product of 350 base pairs under conditions in which both WT and mutated (MT) sequences could form a duplex with the probe. The hybridized electrodes were soaked in an electrolyte containing FND under conditions in which only the mismatched duplex could undergo dissociation. FND was concentrated in proportion to the amount of the duplex remaining on the electrode to give rise to a current signal. Blind tests were run to judge the genotype (WT/WT, WT/MT, or MT/MT) of 10 samples each for the G188E and Arita mutations and then, 8 and 10 of them were judged correctly, respectively.     

Direct detection of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) with genomic DNA by the ferrocenylnaphthalene diimide-based electrochemical hybridization assay (FND-EHA).

A ferrocenylnaphthalene diimide-based electrochemical hybridization assay (FND-EHA) was applied to the direct detection of a C-to-G transition in a codon (TCA) for Ser-447 of the human lipoprotein lipase (LPL) gene, which resulted in the termination of the LPL protein there. Either one of two 13-meric oligonucleotide probes, S447 WT and S447X MT, representing sequences complementary to those of the wild type (WT) and mutated (MT) forms, was immobilized on a gold electrode, followed by hybridization with chromosomal DNA extracted from human leukocytes under the condition in which both WT- and MT-type sequences can form a duplex. These two electrodes were soaked in an electrolyte containing FND under a condition [0.1 M HOAc/KOAc (pH 5.6) containing 0.1 KCl and 0.05 mM FND at 40 degrees C], in which only the MT duplex could undergo dissociation. FND was concentrated in proportion to the amount of the duplex formed on the electrode to give rise to a current signal. The electrochemical signal ratios obtained for WT/WT, WT/MT and MT/MT were close to the theoretical 2:1:0 with the S447 WT-modified electrode, and was again close to 0:1:2 with the S447X MT-modified one.     

Nanostructured rough gold electrodes as platforms to enhance the sensitivity of electrochemical genosensors

An electrochemical DNA genosensor constructed by using rough gold as electrode support is reported in this work. The electrode surface nanopatterning was accomplished by repetitive square-wave perturbing potential (RSWPP). A synthetic 25-mer DNA capture probe, modified at the 5′ end with a hexaalkylthiol, able to hybridize with a specific sequence of lacZ gene from the Enterobacteriaceae bacterial family was assembled to the rough gold surface. A 25 bases synthetic sequence fully complementary to the thiolated DNA capture probe and a 326 bases fragment of lacZ containing a fully matched sequence with the capture probe, which was amplified by a specific asymmetric polymerase chain reaction (aPCR), were employed as target sequences. The hybridization event was electrochemically monitored by using two different indicators, hexaammineruthenium (III) chloride showing an electrostatic DNA binding mode, and pentaamineruthenium-[3-(2-phenanthren-9-yl-vinyl)-pyridine] (in brief RuL) which binds to double stranded DNA (dsDNA) following an intercalative mechanism. After optimization of the different variables involved in the hybridization and detection reactions, detection limits of 5.30 pg μL⁻¹ and 10 pg μL⁻¹ were obtained for the 25-mer synthetic target DNA and the aPCR amplicon, respectively. A RSD value of 6% was obtained for measurements carried out with 3 different genosensors prepared in the same manner.     

An Electrochemical DNA Sensor Based on Electrodepositing Aluminum Ion Films on Stearic Acid‐Modified Carbon Paste Electrode and Its Application for the Detection of Specific Sequences Related to Bar Gene and CP4 Epsps Gene

An electrochemical DNA biosensor was fabricated by immobilizing DNA probe on aluminum ion films that were electrodeposited on the surface of the stearic acid‐modified carbon paste electrode (CPE). DNA immobilization and hybridization were characterized with cyclic voltammetry (CV) by using methylene blue (MB) as indicator. MB has a couple of well‐defined voltammetric redox peaks at the CPE. The currents of redox peaks of MB decreased after depositing aluminum ion films on the CPE (Al(III)/CPE) and increased dramatically after immobilizing DNA probe (ssDNA/Al(III)/CPE). Hybridization of DNA probe led to a marked decrease of the peak currents of MB, which can be used to detect the target single‐stranded DNA. The conditions for the preparation of Al(III)/CPE, and DNA immobilization and hybridization were optimized. The specific sequences related to bar transgene in the transgenic corn and the PCR amplification of CP4 epsps gene from the sample of transgenic roundup ready soybean were detected by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) with this new electrochemical DNA biosensor. The difference between the peak currents of MB at ssDNA/Al(III)/CPE and that at hybridization DNA modified electrode (dsDNA/Al(III)/CPE) was applied to determine the specific sequence related to the target bar gene with the dynamic range comprised between 1.0×10^?7 mol/L to 1.0×10^?4 mol/L. A detection limit of 2.25×10^?8 mol/L of oligonucleotides can be estimated.     

Nano‐Gold Modified Genosensor for Direct Detection of DNA Hybridization

In this paper, nano‐gold modified carbon paste electrode (NGMCPE) was employed to develop an electrochemical DNA hybridization biosensor. The proposed sensor was made up by immobilization of 15‐mer single stranded oligonucleotide probe for detection of target DNA. Hybridization detection relies on the alternation in guanine oxidation signal following hybridization of the probe with complementary genomic DNA. The guanine oxidation was monitored using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). Different factors such as activation potential, activation time and probe immobilization conditions were optimized. The selectivity of the sensor was investigated by non‐complementary oligonucleotides. Diagnostic performance of the biosensor was described and the detection limit was found 1.9 × 10^?13 M at the NGMCPE surface. All of the investigations were performed in both CPE and NGMCPE and finally their results were compared.     

Glutaraldehyde-modified electrode for nonlabeling voltammetric detection of <Emphasis Type="Italic">p16</Emphasis><Superscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">INK4A</Emphasis></Superscript> gene

A nonlabeling electrochemical detection method for analyzing the polymerase-chain-reaction-amplified sequence-specific p16 ^INK4A gene, in which the basis for the covalent immobilization of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) probe is described, has been developed. The self-assembly process was based on the covalent coupling of glutaraldehyde (GA) as an arm molecule onto an amino-functional surface. The p16 ^INK4A gene was used as the model target for the methylation detection of early cancer diagnosis. An amino-modified DNA probe was successfully assembled on the GA-coupling surface through the formation of Schiff base under potential control. The hybridization of amino-modified DNA probes with the target was investigated by means of electrochemical measurements, including cyclic voltammetry and square wave voltammetry. Furthermore, the functions of GA coupling for sequence-specific detection were compared with those obtained based on mercaptopropionic acid. Hybridization experiments indicated that the covalent coupling of GA was suitable for the immobilization of DNA probe and was sensitive to the electrochemical detection of single-base mismatches of label-free DNA targets in hybridization. Moreover, reported probe-modified surfaces exhibited excellent stability, and the hybridization reactions were found to be completely reversible and highly specific for recognition in subsequent hybridization processes. The strategy provided the potential for taking full advantage of existing modified electrode technologies and was verified in microarray technology, which could be applied as a useful and powerful tool in electrochemical biosensor and microarray technology.     

Detection of bar gene encoding phosphinothricin herbicide resistance in plants by electrochemical biosensor

An electrochemical biosensor for the detection of bar gene coding phosphinothricin herbicide resistance is presented. The detection was based on hybridization reaction between the specific to bar gene 19-mer probe immobilized on the electrode surface and complementary DNA in a sample. Single-stranded DNA probe specific to bar gene was covalently attached by 5'-phosphate end to the surface of carbon paste electrode. Outer layer of a conventional CPE was provided with carboxyl groups of stearic acid. ssDNA was coupled to the electrode through ethylenediamine with the use of water-soluble 1-ethyl-3(3'-dimethylaminopropyl)-carbodiimide and N-hydroxy-sulfosuccinimide as activating reagents. Hybridization reaction at the electrode surface was detected via Co(bpy)(3)(3+), which possess a much higher affinity to the resulting DNA duplex compared to ssDNA probe. Detection limit of the sensor was 0.1 microM of target DNA fragments and its response was linear from 5 to 20 microM. Hybridization event was also detected by measuring guanine peak but this approach presented distinctly higher detection limit (1 muM) and lower reproducibility. Complete time of one measurement with the use of the biosensor including covalent attachment of ethylenediamine (linker) and ssDNA probe to the electrode, hybridization with target and interaction with electroactive indicator was about 70 min.     

Developing an electrochemical deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) biosensor on the basis of human interleukine-2 gene using an electroactive label

Development of an electrochemical DNA biosensor based on a human interleukine-2 (IL-2) gene probe, using a pencil graphite electrode (PGE) as transducer and methylene blue (MB) as electroactive label is described. The sensor relies on the immobilization of a 20-mer single stranded oligonucleotide probe (hIL-2) related to the IL-2 gene on the electrode. The hybridization between the probe and its complementary sequence (chIL-2) as the target was studied by square wave voltammetry (SWV) of MB accumulated on the PGE. In this approach the extent of hybridization is evaluated on the basis of the difference between SWV signals of MB accumulated on the probe-PGE and MB accumulated on the probe-target-PGE. Some hybridization experiments with non-complementary oligonucleotides were carried out to assess whether the suggested DNA sensor responds selectively to the target. Some experimental variables affecting the performance of the biosensor including: polishing of PGE, its electrochemical activation conditions (i.e., activation potential and activation time) and probe immobilization conditions on the electrodes (i.e., immobilization potential and time) were investigated and the optimum values of 1.80 V and 300 s for PGE activation, and −0.5 V and 400 s for the probe immobilization on the electrode were suggested.     

Electrochemical Determination of Label Free BRCA Hybridization by Single Use Antioxidant Modified Electrode

A novel DNA probe based on caffeic acid modified disposable pencil graphite electrodes were developed for the first time for the electrochemical determination of breast cancer gene sequence (BRCA) hybridization. Amino‐linked BRCA probe highly immobilized onto the caffeic acid modified electrode by means of the interaction between the amino group of BRCA probe and the carboxyl group of caffeic acid compared to the bare electrode. 44 % signal enhancement in guanine oxidation signal was measured by caffeic acid modified electrode. Besides, these probes exhibited high selectivity towards its complementary DNA sequences (target). Hybridization between probe and target (BRCA1) was studied to evaluate the selectivity of the probes for complementary, non‐complementary and mismatch sequences. The selectivity was also tested in the presence of mixture containing the target and one base mismatch BRCA sequences in the same ratio (1 : 1). It can be said this probe can select its complementary from the mixture.     

G-quadruplex functionalized nano mesoporous silica for assay of the DNA methyltransferase activity

The abnormal level of DNA methyltransferase (MTase) may cause the aberrant DNA methylation, which has been found being associated with a growing number of human diseases, so it is necessary to create a sensitive and selective method to detect DNA MTase activity. In this paper, a new type of DNA functionalized nano mesoporous silica (MSNs) was creatively introduced to the detection of DNA MTase activity with G-quadruplex as a lock for signal molecule to release. The method was carried out by designing a particular DNA which could fold into G-quadruplex and complement with probe DNA. Next, MSNs was prepared before blocking methylene blue (MB) by G-quadruplex. Probe DNA was then fixed on gold nanoparticles modified glass carbon electrode, and the material was able to be transferred to the surface of electrode by DNA hybridization. After methylation of DNA MTase and the cutting of restriction endonuclease, the electrode was transferred to phosphate buffer solution (pH 9.0) for the releasing of MB. The response of differential pulse voltammetry was obtained from the release of MB. Consequently, the difference of signals with or without methylation could prove the assay of M. SssI MTase activity. The results showed that the responses from MB increased linearly with the increasing of the M. SssI MTase concentrations from 0.28 to 50 U mL⁻¹. The limit of detection was 0.28 U mL⁻¹. In addition, Zebularine, a nucleoside analog of cytidine, was utilized for studying the inhibition activity of M. SssI MTase.     

DNA sensor based on an Escherichia coli lac Z gene probe immobilization at self-assembled monolayers-modified gold electrodes

A novel approach to construct an electrochemical DNA sensor based on immobilization of a 25 base single-stranded probe, specific to E. coli lac Z gene, onto a gold disk electrode is described. The capture probe is covalently attached using a self-assembled monolayer of 3,3′-dithiodipropionic acid di(N-succinimidyl ester) (DTSP) and mercaptohexanol (MCH) as spacer. Hybridization of the immobilized probe with the target DNA at the electrode surface was monitored by square wave voltammetry (SWV), using methylene blue (MB) as electrochemical indicator. Variables involved in the sensor performance, such as the DTSP concentration in the modification solution, the self-assembled monolayers (SAM) formation time, the DNA probe drying time atop the electrode surface and the amount of probe immobilized, were optimized.

A good stability of the single- and double-stranded oligonucleotides immobilized on the DTSP-modified electrode was demonstrated, and a target DNA detection limit of 45 nM was achieved without signal amplification. Hybridization specificity was checked with non-complementary and mismatch oligonucleotides. A single-base mismatch oligonucleotide gave a hybridization response only 7 ± 3%, higher than the signal obtained for the capture probe before hybridization. The possibility of reusing the electrochemical genosensor was also tested.     

Ferrocenylnaphthalene diimide-based electrochemical detection of methylated gene

Ferrocenylnaphthalene diimide (FND)-based electrochemical hybridization assay was applied to the detection of methylated cytosine of DNA using the products obtained after treatment with bisulfite followed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), where unmethylated cytosine is converted to thymine and methylated one to cytosine. Twenty-meric DNA probes for the methylated (cytosine) and unmethylated (thymine) types of the part of the promoter region of cyclin D-dependent protein kinase inhibitor, p16, gene (p16^Ink4a) were used to be immobilized on the electrochemical array (ECA) chip. Using 1 μL of 10 ng/μL of methylated sample obtained from the methylation-specific PCR of methylated genome containing 10-times excess of unmethylated one, the methylated PCR sample could be detected by the identical electrochemical signals from the two DNA probes under the settled optimum hybridization conditions.     

基于聚硫堇膜对DNA杂交的直接电化学检测

In this work, the application of a conducting polymer, poly（thionine）, modified electrode as matrix to DNA immobilization as well as transducer to label-free DNA hybridization detection was introduced. The electropolymerization of thionine onto electrode surface was carried out by a simple two-step method, which involved a preanodization of glassy carbon electrode at a constant positive potential in thionine solution following cyclic voltammetry scans in the solution. Electrochemical detection was performed by differential pulse voltammetry in the electroactivity potential domain of poly（thionine）. The resulting poly（thionine） modified electrode showed a good stability and electroactivity in aqueous media during a near neutral pH range. Additionally, the pendant amino groups on the poly（thionine） chains enabled poly（thionine） modified electrode to immobilize phosphate group terminated DNA probe via covalent linkage. Hybridization process induced a clear decrease in poly（thionine） redox current, which was corresponding to the decrease in poly（thionine） electroactivity after double stranded DNA was formed on the polymer film. The detection limit of this electrochemical DNA hybridization sensor was 1.0 × 10^-10mol/L. Compared with complementary sequence, the hybridization signal values of 1-base mismatched and 3-base mismatched samples were 63.9% and 9.2%, respectively.     

Electrochemical analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms of p53 gene

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of cancer repression gene p53 were analyzed electrochemically with ferrocenyl naphthalene diimide (1) as a hybridization indicator. The SNPs studied were the transition to A from G in the codon for amino acid at positions 175, 248 or 273 and the transversion to C from G in the codon for the amino acid at position 72. Thus, 20-meric oligonucleotides carrying the SNP site were used both as a sample and a probe with the latter immobilized on an electrode. Even one base difference on the p53 gene resulted in a significant difference in the current response of 1 and the magnitude of the response correlated with the amount of the DNA hybrid on the electrode. Moreover, when PCR products of exon 4, on which the P72/R72 SNP resides, of the p53 gene were analyzed by this method, the heterozygote and homozygotes were discriminated with modest precision.     

Electrochemical DNA biosensor for the detection of TT and Hepatitis B virus from PCR amplified real samples by using methylene blue

DNA biosensors based on nucleic acid hybridization processes are rapidly being developed towards the goal of rapid and inexpensive diagnosis of genetic and infectious diseases. Electrochemical transducers are often being used for detecting the DNA hybridization event, due to their high sensitivity, small dimensions, low cost, and compatibility with microfabrication technology. In this study, an electrochemical biosensor for the voltammetric detection of DNA sequences related to the Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and TT virus (TTV) from polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplified real samples is described for the first time. The biosensor relies on the immobilization of the 21- or 24-mer single stranded oligonucleotides (probe) related to the HBV and TTV sequences and hybridization of these oligonucleotides with their complementary sequences (target) at carbon paste electrode (CPE). The extent of hybridization between the probe and target sequences was determined by using square wave voltammetry (SWV) with moving average baseline correction and methylene blue (MB) as the hybridization indicator. As a result of the interaction between MB and the bound guanine bases of hybrid at CPE surface, the MB signal decreased, when it was compared with the MB signal, which was observed with probe modified CPE. The difference between the MB signals, obtained from the hybrid modified and the probe modified CPE is used to detect the DNA sequences of the infectious diseases from PCR amplified real samples. Numerous factors affecting the target hybridization and indicator binding reactions are optimized to maximize the sensitivity.     

Highly sensitive electrochemical impedance spectroscopic detection of DNA hybridization based on Aunano-CNT/PANnano films

A polyaniline nanofibers (PAN_nano)/carbon paste electrode (CPE) was prepared via dopping PAN_nano in the carbon paste. The nanogold (Au_nano) and carbon nanotubes (CNT) composite nanoparticles were bound on the surface of the PAN_nano/CPE. The immobilization and hybridization of the DNA probe on the Au_nano-CNT/PAN_nano films were investigated with differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) using methylene blue (MB) as indicator, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) using [Fe(CN)₆]^3−/4− as redox probe. The voltammetric peak currents of MB increased dramatically owing to the immobilization of the probe DNA on the Au_nano-CNT/PAN_nano films, and then decreased obviously owing to the hybridization of the DNA probe with the complementary single-stranded DNA (cDNA). The electron transfer resistance (R_et) of the electrode surface increased after the immobilization of the probe DNA on the Au_nano-CNT/PAN_nano films and rose further after the hybridization of the probe DNA. The remarkable difference between the R_et value at the DNA-immobilized electrode and that at the hybridized electrode could be used for the label-free EIS detection of the target DNA. The loading of the DNA probe on Au_nano-CNT/PAN_nano films was greatly enhanced and the sensitivity for the target DNA detection was markedly improved. The sequence-specific DNA of phosphinothricin acetyltransferase (PAT) gene and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of nopaline synthase (NOS) gene from transgenically modified beans were determined with this label-free EIS DNA detection method. The dynamic range for detecting the PAT gene sequence was from 1.0 × 10⁻¹² mol/L to 1.0 × 10⁻⁶ mol/L with a detection limit of 5.6 × 10⁻¹³ mol/L.     

Impedance‐Based DNA Biosensor Employing Molecular Beacon DNA as Probe and Thionine as Charge Neutralizer

In this paper, we present an impedance‐based DNA biosensor using thionine intercalation to amplify DNA hybridization signal. Beacon single‐stranded DNA (ssDNA) probe and mercaptoacetic acid were self‐assembled onto a Au electrode by forming Au? S bonds. These beacon ssDNAs were hybridized with the complementary sequences around the loop structure. Then thionine was intercalated into the double‐stranded DNA (dsDNA) immobilized on the Au electrode surface. Due to the neutralization of the negative charges of dsDNA by the intercalated thionine, the electronic transfer resistance (R_et) of the DNA modified Au electrode was significantly diminished. Herein, the decreased value of R_et resulted from the thionine intercalating into dsDNA was employed as the hybridization signal. SDS was used to reduce the unspecific adsorption between ssDNA and thionine. Several experimental conditions, including the surface coverage of ssDNA probe on Au electrode, the hybridization temperature and time were all optimized. Moreover, the hybridization reactions of the unstructured linear ssDNA probe and the structured beacon ssDNA probe with their complementary sequences were compared in this work. The sensitivity of the presented DNA biosensor highlighted that the intercalation of thionine into dsDNA was an efficient approach to amplify the hybridization signal using impedance detection technique. Additionally, in this DNA biosensing protocol, beacon ssDNA has a good ability to distinguish target DNA sequences. This results in a higher specificity than using traditional unstructured DNA probe.