A Biosensor for Genetic Modified Soybean DNA Determination via Adsorption of Anthraquinone‐2‐sulphonic Acid in Reduced Graphene Oxide

An electrochemical DNA biosensor for DNA determination of genetically modified (GM) soybean (CaMV 35S target genes) was developed utilizing a new detection concept based on the adsoption of anthraquinone‐2‐sulphonic acid (AQMS) on the reduced graphene oxide nano‐particles (rGO) during DNA hybridization events. The aminated DNA probe for CaMV 35S was immobilized onto poly(n‐butyl acrylate) film modified with succinimide functional groups [poly(nBA‐NAS)] via peptide covalent bond. Nanosheets of rGO were entrapped in the poly(nBA‐NAS) film to form a conducting [poly(nBA‐NAS)‐rGO] film of the DNA biosensor. Besides facilitating the electron transfer reactions, the rGO also functioned as an adsorbent for AQMS. The sensing mechanism of the proposed DNA biosensor involved measuring the oxidation current of the AQMS adsorbed on the electrode surface at −0.50 V using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) before and after a DNA hybridization event. Under optimum conditions, the DNA biosensor demonstrated a linear proportionality between AQMS oxidation signal and logarithm cDNA concentration from 1.0×10⁻¹⁵ M to 1.0×10⁻⁸ M target DNA with a detection limit of 6.3×10⁻¹⁶ M. The electrochemical DNA biosensor possessed good selectivity and a shelf life of about 40 days with relative standard deviation of reproducibility obtained in the range of 3.7–4.6% (n=5). Evaluation of the DNA biosensor using GM soybean DNA extracts showed excellent recovery percentages of 97.2–104.0.     

Indigo Carmine as New Label in PNA Biosensor for Detection of Short Sequence of p53 Tumor Suppressor Gene

A new electrochemical PNA hybridization biosensor for detection of a 15‐mer sequence unique to p53 using indigo carmine (IC) as an electrochemical detector is described in this work. This genosensor is based on the hybridization of target oligonucleotide with its complementary probe immobilized on the gold electrode by self‐assembled monolayer formation. Because this label is electroactive in acidic medium, the interaction between IC and short sequence of p53 is studied by differential pulse voltammety (DPV) in 0.1 M H₂SO₄. The results of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry in the solution of [Fe(CN)₆]^3?/4? shows no breakage in PNA‐DNA duplex. A decrease in the voltammetric peak currents of IC is observed upon hybridization of the probe with the target DNA. The influence of probe concentration on effective discrimination against non‐complementary oligonucleotides is investigated and a concentration of 10^?7 M is selected. The diagnostic performance of the PNA sensor is described and the detection limit is found to be 4.31×10^?12 M.     

A Ready‐to‐Use Electrochemical Kit Design for the Diagnosis of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms

In this study, for the first time a model electrochemical kit was constructed for the detection of a functional polymorphism in catechol‐O‐methyl transferase (COMT) gene which is important for diagnosis of neuropsychiatric disorders as Alzheimer disease. The disposable pencil graphite electrode (PGE) is designed as a “kit” and the probe DNA covered PGE can detect single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from real samples based on the guanine oxidation signal even after 5 months of kit preparation (150 days durability).The detection limit (S/N=3) of the biosensor was calculated as 1.18 pmol of synthetic target sequence and 6.09×10⁵ molecules of real samples in 30 min detection time.     

Electrochemical DNA Biosensor Based on Partially Reduced Graphene Oxide Modified Carbon Ionic Liquid Electrode for the Detection of Transgenic Soybean A2704‐12 Gene Sequence

In this work a partially reduced graphene oxide (p‐RGO) modified carbon ionic liquid electrode (CILE) was prepared as the platform to fabricate an electrochemical DNA sensor, which was used for the sensitive detection of target ssDNA sequence related to transgenic soybean A2704‐12 sequence. The CILE was fabricated by using 1‐butylpyridinium hexafluorophosphate as the binder and then p‐RGO was deposited on the surface of CILE by controlling the electroreduction conditions. NH₂ modified ssDNA probe sequences were immobilized on the electrode surface via covalent bonds between the unreduced oxygen groups on the p‐RGO surface and the amine group at the 5′‐end of ssDNA, which was denoted as ssDNA/p‐RGO/CILE and further used to hybridize with the target ssDNA sequence. Methylene blue (MB) was used as electrochemical indicator to monitor the DNA hybridization. The reduction peak current of MB after hybridization was proportional to the concentration of target A2704‐12 ssDNA sequences in the range from 1.0×10^?12 to 1.0×10^?6 mol/L with a detection limit of 2.9×10^?13 mol/L (3σ). The electrochemical DNA biosensor was further used for the detection of PCR products of transgenic soybean with satisfactory results.     

Fabrication of a Sensitive Impedance Biosensor of DNA Hybridization Based on Gold Nanoparticles Modified Gold Electrode

In this work, we report on the preparation of a simple, sensitive DNA impedance sensor. Firstly gold nanoparticles were electrodeposited on the surface of a gold electrode, and then probe DNA was immobilized on the surface of gold nanoparticles through a 5′‐thiol‐linker. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was used to investigate probe DNA immobilization and hybridization. Compared to the bare gold electrode, the gold nanoparticles modified electrode could improve the density of probe DNA attachment and the sensitivity of DNA sensor greatly. The difference of electron transfer resistance (ΔR_et) was linear with the logarithm of complementary oligonucleotides sequence concentrations in the range of 2.0×10^?12 to 9.0×10^?8 M, and the detection limit was 6.7×10^?13 M. In addition, the DNA sensor showed a fairly good reproducibility and stability during repeated regeneration and hybridization cycles.     

Fabrication of a Sensitive Electrochemical Biosensor for Detection of DNA Hybridization Based on Gold Nanoparticles/CuO Nanospindles Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode

In this work, a sensitive electrochemical DNA biosensor for the detection of sequence‐specific target DNA was reported. Firstly, CuO nanospindles (CuO NS) were immobilized on the surface of a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). Subsequently, gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) were introduced to the surface of CuO NS by the electrochemical deposition mode. Probe DNA with SH (HS‐DNA) at the 5′‐phosphate end was covalently immobilized on the surface of the Au NPs through Au? S bond. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to elucidate the morphology of the assembled film, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy technique (EIS) was used to investigate the DNA sensor assembly process. Hybridization detection of DNA was performed with differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) and the methylene blue (MB) was hybridization indicator. Under the optimal conditions, the decline of reduction peak current of MB (ΔI) was linear with the logarithm of the concentration of complementary DNA from 1.0×10^?13 to 1.0×10^?6 mol·L^?1 with a detection limit of 3.5×10^?14 mol·L^?1 (S/N=3). In addition, this DNA biosensor has good selectivity, and even can distinguish single‐mismatched target DNA.     

Electro‐oxidized Monolayer CVD Graphene Film Transducer for Ultrasensitive Impedimetric DNA Biosensor

We report the effect of electrochemical anodization on the properties of monolayer graphene as the main aim of this research and consequently using the resulting label‐free impedimetric biosensor for DNA sequences detection. Monolayer graphene was grown by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) with methane as precursor on copper foil, transferred onto a glassy carbon electrode and electrochemically anodized. Raman spectroscopy and X‐Ray photo electron spectroscopy revealed enhancement of defect density, roughness and formation of C−O−C, C−O−H and C=O functional groups after anodization. Amine‐terminated poly T probe was linked covalently to the carboxylic groups of anodized graphene by the zero‐length linker to fabricate the impedance‐based DNA biosensor. The anodized graphene electrode demonstrated a superior performance for electrochemical impedance detection of DNA. The DNA biosensor showed a large linear dynamic range from 2.0×10⁻¹⁸ to 1.0×10⁻¹² M with a limit of detection of 1.0×10⁻¹⁸ M using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) method. Equivalent circuit modeling shows that DNA hybridization is detected through a change in charge transfer resistance.     

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.     

Impedance DNA Biosensor Using Electropolymerized Polypyrrole/Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes Modified Electrode

In this paper, we present an electrochemical impedance‐based DNA biosensor by using a composite material of polypyrrole (PPy) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) to modify glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The polymer film was electropolymerized onto GCE by cyclic voltammetry (CV) in the presence of carboxylic groups ended MWNTs (MWNTs‐COOH). Such electrode modification method is new for DNA hybridization sensor. Amino group ended single‐stranded DNA (NH₂‐ssDNA) probe was linked onto the PPy/MWNTs‐COOH/GCE by using EDAC, a widely used water‐soluble carbodiimide for crosslinking amine and carboxylic acid group. The hybridization reaction of this ssDNA/PPy/MWNTs‐COOH/GCE resulted in a decreased impedance, which was attributed to the lower electronic transfer resistance of double‐stranded DNA than single‐stranded DNA. As the result of the PPy/MWNTs modification, the electrode obtained a good electronic transfer property and a large specific surface area. Consequently, the sensitivity and selectivity of this sensor for biosensing DNA hybridization were improved. Complementary DNA sequence as low as 5.0×10^?12 mol L^?1 can be detected without using hybridization marker or intercalator. Additionally, it was found that the electropolymerization scan rate was an important factor for DNA biosensor fabrication. It has been optimized at 20 mV s^?1.     

DNA Hydrolysis and Voltammetric Determination of Guanine and Adenine Using Different Electrodes

Abstract

This work reports the development of a biosensor method for the label‐free detection of specific DNA sequences. In the initial phase, square wave voltammetry (SWV) was used in a comparative investigation into the electrochemical oxidation of purines (guanine and adenine) and DNA fragments at various electrode surfaces: carbon paste (CPE), glassy carbon electrode (GCE), and gold (AuE). Relative to the carbon electrodes, an approximate 4.0‐fold, 6.0‐fold, and 3.25‐fold increase in the anodic response was observed when guanine, adenine, and hydrolyzed DNA, respectively, were measured on the AuE. It was shown that the guanine and adenine bases could be successfully determined by use of SWV for a deoxyribonucleic acid sample following acid hydrolysis. This label‐free detection of hydrolyzed DNA on gold electrodes has significant advantages over methods using existing carbon electrode materials because of its higher sensitivity and the potential applicability of microfabrication techniques for the production of the requisite gold electrodes.

In another phase of development, the times and conditions for DNA hydrolysis and purine release were investigated. It was shown that under optimal conditions, trace levels of the purine bases could be readily detected following 20 min of hydrolysis at room temperature. The proposed method can be used to estimate the guanine and adenine contents in DNA with in a linear range of 5–30 ng ml^?1.

Finally, when appropriate probe sequences were first adsorbed on the surface of the screen‐printed gold electrode (SPGE), this electrochemical biosensor could be used to specifically detect sequences from ss corona virus aviair following hybridization and hydrolysis reactions on the sensor surface. No enhancement of the voltammetric response was observed when the sensor was challenged with a non‐complementary DNA sequence.     

Electrochemical DNA Biosensor Based on Magnetite/Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes/Chitosan Nanocomposite for Bacillus Cereus Detection of Potential Marker for Gold Prospecting

A label‐free DNA biosensor based on magnetite/multiwalled carbon nanotubes/chitosan (Fe₃O₄/MWCNTs‐COOH/CS) nanomaterial for detection of Bacillus cereus DNA sequences was fabricated. Negatively charged DNA was electrostatically adsorbed onto materials by protonation of positively charged chitosan under acidic conditions. The electrode surface and hybridization process were carried out by cyclic voltammetry (CV), differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Under optimal conditions, the biosensor showed a good linear relationship between peak currents difference (ΔI) and logarithm of the target DNA concentration (Log C) ranging from 2.0×10⁻¹³ to 2.0×10⁻⁶ M with a detection limit of 2.0×10⁻¹⁵ M (signal/noise ratio of 3). The biosensor also revealed an excellent selectivity to three‐base, completely mismatched and completely matched DNA. This is a simple, fast and friendly method with a low detection limit for the detection of Bacillus cereus specific DNA compared with previously reported electrochemical DNA biosensor. Furthermore, the DNA biosensor may lead to the development of a technology for gold prospecting in the wild.     

Electrochemical DNA biosensor for the detection of Trichoderma harzianum based on a gold electrode modified with a composite membrane made from an ionic liquid, ZnO nanoparticles and chitosan, and by using acridine orange as a redox indicator

An electrochemical DNA biosensor was developed that is based on a gold electrode modified with a nanocomposite membrane made from an ionic liquid, ZnO nanoparticles and chitosan. A single-stranded DNA probe was immobilized on this electrode. Acridine orange was used as the hybridization probe for monitoring the hybridization of the target DNA. The biosensor was capable of detecting target DNA in the concentration range from 1.0?×?10?C14 to 1.8?×?10?C4?mol?L-1, with a detection limit of 1.0?×?10?C15?mol?L-1. The approach towards constructing a DNA biosensor allows studies on the hybridization even with crude DNA fragments and also to analyze sample obtained from real samples. The results show that the DNA biosensor has the potential for sensitive detection of a specific sequence of the Trichoderma harzianum gene and provides a quick, sensitive and convenient method for the study of microorganisms.

Sensitively Electrochemical Sensing for Sequence‐Specific Detection of Phosphinothricin Acetyltransferase Gene: Layer‐by‐Layer Films of Poly‐L‐Lysine and Au‐Carbon Nanotube Hybrid

An electrochemical DNA sensing film was constructed based on the multilayers comprising of poly‐L ‐lysine (pLys) and Au‐carbon nanotube (Au‐CNT) hybrid. A precursor film of mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) was firstly self‐assembled on the Au electrode surface. pLys and Au‐CNT hybrid layer‐by‐layer assembly films were fabricated by alternately immersing the MPA‐modified electrode into the pLys solution and Au‐CNT hybrid solution. Cyclic voltammetry was used to monitor the consecutive growth of the multilayer films by utilizing [Fe(CN)₆]^3?/4? and [Co(phen)₃]^3+/2+ as the redox indicators. The outer layer of the multilayer film was the positively charged pLys, on which the DNA probe was easily linked due to the strong electrostatic affinity. The hybridization detection of DNA was accomplished by using methylene blue (MB) as the indicator, which possesses different affinities to dsDNA and ssDNA. Differential pulse voltammetry was employed to record the signal response of MB and determine the amount of the target DNA sequence. The established biosensor has high sensitivity, a relatively wide linear range from 1.0×10^?10 mol/L to 1.0×10^?6 mol/L and the ability to discriminate the fully complementary target DNA from single or double base‐mismatched DNA. The sequence‐specific DNA related to phosphinothricin acetyltransferase gene from the transgenically modified plants was successfully detected.     

Amperometric Biosensor for Detection of Phenolic Compounds Based on Tyrosinase,N‐Acetyl‐L‐cysteine‐capped Gold Nanoparticles and Chitosan Nanocomposite

A novel biosensor was fabricated based on the immobilization of tyrosinase and N ‐acetyl‐L ‐cysteine‐capped gold nanoparticles onto the surface of the glassy carbon electrode via the film forming by chitosan. The NAC‐AuNPs (N ‐acetyl‐L ‐cysteine‐capped gold nanoparticles) with the average size of 3.4 nm had much higher specific surface area and good biocompatibility, which were favorable for increasing the immobilization amount of enzyme, retaining the catalytic activity of enzyme and facilitating the fast electron transfer. The prepared biosensor exhibited suitable amperometric responses at −0.2 V for phenolic compounds vs. saturated calomel electrode. The parameters of influencing on the working electrode such as pH , temperature, working potential were investigated. Under optimum conditions, the biosensor was applied to detect catechol with a linear range of 1.0 × 10⁻⁷ to 6.0 × 10⁻⁵ mol•L⁻¹ , and the detection limit of 5.0 × 10⁻⁸ mol•L⁻¹ (S /N =3). The stability and selectivity of the proposed biosensor were also evaluated.     

Nucleic Acid Biosensor for Detection of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Using Aquabis(1,10‐phenanthroline)copper(II) Perchlorate as Electrochemical Indicator

The electrochemical behavior of aquabis(1,10‐phenanthroline)copper(II) perchlorate [Cu(H₂O)(phen)₂]·2ClO₄, where phen=1,10‐phenanthroline, on binding to DNA at a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) and in solution, was described. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) results showed that [Cu(H₂O)(phen)₂]²⁺ had excellent electrochemical activity on the GCE with a couple of quasi‐reversible redox peaks. The interaction mode between [Cu(H₂O)(phen)₂]²⁺ and double‐strand DNA (dsDNA) was identified to be intercalative binding. An electrochemical DNA biosensor was developed with covalent immobilization of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) probe for single‐strand DNA (ssDNA) on the modified GCE. Numerous factors affecting the probe immobilization, target hybridization, and indicator binding reactions were optimized to maximize the sensitivity and speed of the assay. With this approach, a sequence of the HIV could be quantified over the range from 7.8×10^?9 to 3.1×10^?7 mol·L^?1 with a linear correlation of γ=0.9987 and a detection limit of 1.3×10^?9 mol·L^?1.     

Electrochemiluminescent aptamer biosensor for the determination of ochratoxin A at a gold-nanoparticles-modified gold electrode using N-(aminobutyl)-N-ethylisoluminol as a luminescent label

A highly selective electrochemiluminescent biosensor for the detection of target nephrotoxic toxin, ochratoxin A (OTA), was developed using a DNA aptamer as the recognition element and N-(4-aminobutyl)-N-ethylisoluminol (ABEI) as the signal-producing compound. The electrochemiluminescent aptamer biosensor was fabricated by immobilizing aptamer complementary DNA 1 sequence onto the surface of a gold-nanoparticle (AuNP)-modified gold electrode. ABEI-labeled aptamer DNA 2 sequence hybridized to DNA 1 and was utilized as an electrochemiluminescent probe. A decreased electrochemiluminescence (ECL) signal was generated upon aptamer recognition of the target OTA, which induced the dissociation of DNA 2 (ABEI-labeled aptamer electrochemiluminescent probe) from DNA 1 and moved it far away from the electrode surface. Under the optimal conditions, the decreased ECL intensity was proportional to an OTA concentration ranging from 0.02 to 3.0 ng mL^-1, with a detection limit of 0.007 ng mL^-1. The relative standard deviation was 3.8% at 0.2 ng mL^-1 (n = 7). The proposed method has been applied to measure OTA in naturally contaminated wheat samples and validated by an official method. This work demonstrates the combination of a highly binding aptamer with a highly sensitive ECL technique to design an electrochemiluminescent biosensor, which is a very promising approach for the determination of small-molecule toxins.     

A Rapid and Sensitive Aptamer‐Based Electrochemical Biosensor for Direct Detection of Escherichia Coli O111

A sensitive and specific electrochemical biosensor based on target‐induced aptamer displacement was developed for direct detection of Escherichia coli O111. The aptamer for Escherichia coli O111 was immobilized on a gold electrode by hybridization with the capture probe anchored on the electrode surface through Au‐thiol binding. In the presence of Escherichia coli O111, the aptamer was dissociated from the capture probe‐aptamer duplex due to the stronger interaction between the aptamer and the Escherichia coli O111. The consequent single‐strand capture probe could be hybridized with biotinylated detection probe and tagged with streptavidin‐alkaline phosphatase, producing sensitive enzyme‐catalyzed electrochemical response to Escherichia coli O111. The designed biosensor showed weak electrochemical signal to Salmonella typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus and common non‐pathogenic Escherichia coli, indicating high specificity for Escherichia coli O111. Under the optimal conditions, the proposed strategy could directly detect Escherichia coli O111 with the detection limit of 112 CFU mL^?1 in phosphate buffer saline and 305 CFU mL^?1 in milk within 3.5 h, demonstrated the sensitive and accurate quantification of target pathogenic bacteria. The designed biosensor could become a powerful tool for pathogenic microorganisms screening in clinical diagnostics, food safety, biothreat detection and environmental monitoring.     

Detection of Aeromonas hydrophila DNA oligonucleotide sequence using a biosensor design based on Ceria nanoparticles decorated reduced graphene oxide and Fast Fourier transform square wave voltammetry

A new strategy was introduced for ssDNA immobilization on a modified glassy carbon electrode. The electrode surface was modified using polyaniline and chemically reduced graphene oxide decorated cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO₂NPs-RGO). A single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) probe was immobilized on the modified electrode surface. Fast Fourier transform square wave voltammetry (FFT-SWV) was applied as detection technique and [Ru(bpy)₃]^2+/3+ redox signal was used as electrochemical marker. The hybridization of ssDNA with its complementary target caused a dramatic decrease in [Ru(bpy)₃]^2+/3+ FFT-SW signal. The proposed electrochemical biosensor was able to detect Aeromonas hydrophila DNA oligonucleotide sequence encoding aerolysin protein. Under optimal conditions, the biosensor showed excellent selectivity toward complementary sequence in comparison with noncomplementary and two-base mismatch sequences. The dynamic linear range of this electrochemical DNA biosensor for detecting 20-mer oligonucleotide sequence of A. hydrophila was from 1 × 10⁻¹⁵ to 1 × 10⁻⁸ mol L⁻¹. The proposed biosensor was successfully applied for the detection of DNA extracted from A. hydrophila in fish pond water up to 0.01 μg mL⁻¹ with RSD of 5%. Besides, molecular docking was applied to consider the [Ru(bpy)₃]^2+/3+ interaction with ssDNA before and after hybridization.     

Electrochemical DNA biosensor for the detection of Listeria Monocytogenes using toluidine blue as a hybridization indicator

An electrochemical DNA biosensor was established for the determination of actin-assembly inducing protein (actA) gene sequences from Listeria monocytogenes and its polymerase chain reaction (PCR) product. The actA gene probe sequences were covalently immobilized on the surface of the mercaptoacetic acid self-assembled gold electrode with the help of N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N′-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) and N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS), which was further used to hybridize with the target sequence. Toluidine blue (TB) was used as an effective electrochemical indicator for the discrimination of the hybridization reaction on the electrode surface, which had stronger interaction with double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) than single-stranded DNA (ssDNA). The electrochemical parameters of TB on DNA modified electrodes were carefully calculated. Based on the different electrochemical responses of TB on DNA modified electrodes, the actA gene sequences can be detected in the concentration range from 1.0 × 10^-7 to 8.0 × 10^-5 M. The PCR product of Listeria monocytogenes was successfully detected by the proposed electrochemical biosensor.     

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.