A cyclodextrin host-guest recognition approach to a label-free electrochemical DNA hybridization biosensor

A novel label-free electrochemical DNA hybridization biosensor using a β-cyclodextrin/poly(N-acetylaniline)/carbon nanotube composite modified screen printed electrode (CD/PNAANI/CNT/SPE) has been developed. The proposed DNA hybridization biosensor relies on the intrinsic oxidation signals of guanine (G) and adenine (A) from single-stranded DNA entered into the cyclodextrin (CD) cavity. Due to the binding of G and A bases to complementary cytosine and thymine bases in dsDNA, the signals obtained for ssDNA were much higher than that of dsDNA. The synergistic effect of the multi-walled carbon nanotubes provides a significantly enhanced voltammetric signal, and the CD encapsulation effect makes anodic peaks of G and A shift to less positive potentials than that at the bare SPE. The peak heights of G and A signals are dependent on both the number of the respective bases in oligonucleotides and the concentration of the target DNA sequences. Hybridization of complementary strands was monitored through the measurements of oxidation signal of purine bases, which enabled the detection of target sequences from 0.01 to 1.02 nmol μl(-1) with the detection limit of target DNA as low as 5.0 pmol μl(-1) (S/N = 3). Implementation of label-free and homogeneous electrochemical hybridization detection constitutes an important step toward low-cost, simple, highly sensitive and accurate DNA assay. Discrimination between complementary, noncomplementary, and two-base mismatch targets was easily accomplished using the proposed electrode.     

Electrocatalytic and Analytical Response of β‐Cyclodextrin Incorporated Carbon Nanotubes‐Modified Electrodes Toward Guanine

The utility of β‐cyclodextrin incorporated carbon nanotubes‐modified electrodes (β‐CD/CNT/E) for electrocatalytic oxidation of guanine in aqueous solution is demonstrated. Compared to the conventional electrode, it lowers the overpotential and enhances the peak current significantly. The action mechanism of β‐CD/CNT/E was discussed systemically. The results demonstrated that the use of β‐CD/CNT/E clearly provides an effective methodology for the determination of guanine. Based on the signal of guanine, an estimate of DNA concentration can be recognized with a limit of detection of 10 ng mL^?1.     

Direct DNA Hybridization on the Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes Modified Sensors Detected by Voltammetry and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy

Carboxylic acid functionalized single‐walled carbon nanotubes modified graphite sensors (SWCNT‐PGEs) were developed for electrochemical monitoring of direct DNA hybridization related to specific sequence of Hepatitis B virus, which substantially enhance the electrochemical transduction resulting from guanine oxidation signal comparison to bare PGEs. The performance characteristics of DNA hybridization on disposable CNT‐PGE were explored measuring the guanine signal in terms of optimum analytical conditions; probe and target concentration, hybridization time, and selectivity. The voltammetric results were also complemented with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), that was used to characterize the successful construction of carbon nanotubes modification onto the surface of PGEs.     

Label-free electrochemical detection of DNA hybridization on gold electrode

A label-free electrochemical detection protocol for DNA hybridization is reported for the first time by using a gold electrode (AuE). The oxidation signal of guanine was monitored at +0.73 V by using square wave voltammetry (SWV) on self-assembled l-cysteine monolayer (SAM) modified AuE. The electrochemical determination of hybridization between an inosine substituted capture probe and native target DNA was also accomplished. 6-mer adenine probe was covalently attached to SAM via its amino link at 5^′ end. Then, 6-mer thymine-tag of the capture probe was hybridized with the adenine probe, thus left the rest of the oligonucleotide available for hybridization with the target. The dependence of the guanine signal upon the concentration of the target was observed. Probe modified AuE was also challenged with non-complementary and mismatch containing oligonucletides. Label-free detection of hybridization on AuE is greatly advantageous over the existing carbon and mercury electrode materials, because of its potential applicability to microfabrication techniques. Performance characteristics of the genosensor are described, along with future prospects.     

基于BCNTs/GC电极的鸟嘌呤与腺嘌呤电化学行为及其同时检测

利用掺硼碳纳米管（BCNTs）/GC电极研究了鸟嘌呤（G）和腺嘌呤（A）的电化学氧化行为. 与GC和CNTs/GC电极相比,BCNTs/GC电极具有更强的电催化活性,且响应电流明显增加. 两混合样品在BCNTs/GC电极上的氧化峰间隔较大,可实现对A和G的同时检测.     

A Novel DNA Probe Based on Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Modified Electrode for the Electrochemical Monitoring of DNA

A DNA probe that was based on methylene blue (MB) imprinted polyvinyl pyridine polymer (MIP) modified carbon paste electrodes were developed for the first time for electrochemical monitoring of DNA. Probes were built up by adsorbing MB onto modified electrodes prior to DNA immobilization. It was shown that DNA strongly immobilizes on MIP modified electrodes when MB was adsorbed in advance of DNA immobilization. The performance of the MB imprinted polymer modified carbon paste electrodes (MIP‐CPE) to rebind the template molecule (MB) were compared to those of control polymer modified (non‐imprinted polymer NIP‐CPE) and bare (CPE) electrodes. Electrochemical signal resulting from the oxidation of guanine moiety of the immobilized probe DNA was high enough on the constructed platform, implicating that probes of this kind could be favorably used for DNA analysis. These probes exhibited high selectivity for its complementary DNA sequences (target). HBV‐DNA hybridization was studied to evaluate the selectivity of the probes for complementary, non‐complementary and mismatch sequences. The detection limit of the probe for the target DNA was 8.72 µg/mL (1.38 µM), which was better than those attained by some earlier DNA sensor studies.     

Electrochemical Monitoring of DNA Hybridization by Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube Based Screen Printed Electrodes

The application of multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) based screen printed graphite electrodes (SPEs) was explored in this study for the electrochemical monitoring of DNA hybridization related to specific sequences on Hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA. After the microscopic characterization of bare MWCNT‐SPEs and DNA immobilized ones was performed, the optimization of assay has been studied. The development of screen printing process combined with nanomaterial based disposable sensor technology leads herein a great opportunity for DNA detection using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) by measuring the guanine oxidation signal observed at +1.00 V in the presence of DNA hybridization between HBV probe and its complementary, target. The detection limit estimated for signal to noise ratios =3 corresponds to 96.33 nM target concentration in the 40 μL samples. The advantages of carbon nanotube based screen printed electrode used for electrochemical monitoring of DNA hybridization are discussed with sensitivity, selectivity and reproducibility in comparison with previous nanomaterial based electrochemical transducers developed for DNA or other biomolecular recognitions.     

Magnetic bead-based label-free electrochemical detection of DNA hybridization.

Magnetic bead capture has been used for eliminating non-specific adsorption effects hampering label-free detection of DNA hybridization based on stripping potentiometric measurements of the target guanine at graphite electrodes. In particular, the efficient magnetic separation has been extremely useful for discriminating against unwanted constituents, including a large excess of co-existing mismatched and non-complementary oligomers, chromosomal DNA, RNA and proteins. The new protocol involves the attachment of biotinylated oligonucleotide probes onto streptavidin-coated magnetic beads, followed by the hybridization event, dissociation of the DNA hybrid from the beads, and potentiometric stripping measurements at a renewable graphite pencil electrode. Such coupling of magnetic hybridization surfaces with renewable graphite electrode transducers and label-free electrical detection results in a greatly simplified protocol and offers great promise for centralized and decentralized genetic testing. A new magnetic carbon-paste transducer, combining the solution-phase magnetic separation with an instantaneous magnetic collection of the bead-captured hybrid, is also described. The characterization, optimization and advantages of the genomagnetic label-free electrical protocol are illustrated below for assays of DNA sequences related to the breast-cancer BRCA1 gene.     

Carbon nanotube detectors for microchip CE: comparative study of single-wall and multiwall carbon nanotube, and graphite powder films on glassy carbon, gold, and platinum electrode surfaces

The performance of microchip electrophoresis/electrochemistry system with carbon nanotube (CNT) film electrodes was studied. Electrocatalytic activities of different carbon materials (single-wall CNT (SWCNT), multiwall CNT (MWCNT), carbon powder) cast on different electrode substrates (glassy carbon (GC), gold, and platinum) were compared in a microfluidic setup and their performance as microchip electrochemical detectors was assessed. An MWCNT film on a GC electrode shows electrocatalytic effect toward oxidation of dopamine (E(1/2) shift of 0.09 V) and catechol (E(1/2) shift of 0.19 V) when compared to a bare GC electrode, while other CNT/carbon powder films on the GC electrode display negligible effects. Modification of a gold electrode by graphite powder results in a strong electrocatalytic effect toward oxidation of dopamine and catechol (E(1/2) shift of 0.14 and 0.11 V, respectively). A significant shift of the half-wave potentials to lower values also provide the MWCNT film (E(1/2) shift of 0.08 and 0.08 V for dopamine and catechol, respectively) and the SWCNT film (E(1/2) shift of 0.10 V for catechol) when compared to a bare gold electrode. A microfluidic device with a CNT film-modified detection electrode displays greatly improved separation resolution (R(s)) by a factor of two compared to a bare electrode, reflecting the electrocatalytic activity of CNT.     

Electrochemical enzyme-linked immunoassay in a DNA hybridization sensor

In most of the currently developed electrochemical DNA hybridization sensors short single-stranded probe DNA is immobilized on an electrode and both the hybridization and detection steps are carried out on the electrode surface. Here we use a new technology in which DNA hybridization is performed on commercially available magnetic beads and detection on solid electrodes. Paramagnetic Dynabeads Oligo(dT)₂₅ (DBT) with covalently bound (dT)₂₅ probe are used for the hybridization with target DNA containing adenine stretches. Target DNA is modified with osmium tetroxide,2,2′-bipyridine (Os,bipy) and the immunogenic DNA-Os,bipy adduct is determined by the enzyme-linked immunoassay with electrochemical detection. Electroinactive 1-naphthyl phosphate is used as a substrate and the electroactive product (1-naphthol) is measured on the carbon electrodes. Alternatively Os,bipy-modified target DNA can be determined directly by measuring the osmium signal on the pyrolytic graphite electrode (PGE). A comparison between determinations of the 67-mer oligodeoxynucleotide on carbon electrodes using (a) the guanine oxidation signal, (b) direct determination of the DNA-Os,bipy adduct and (c) its electrochemical immunoassay showed immunoassay to be the most sensitive method. In combination with DBT, the DNA hybridization of long target deoxyoligonucleotides (such as 67- and 97-mers) and a DNA PCR product (226-base pairs) have been detected by immunoassay at high sensitivity and specificity.     

Comparative study of multi walled carbon nanotubes-based electrodes in micellar media and their application to micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography

This work reports on a comparative study of the electrochemical performance of carbon nanotubes-based electrodes in micellar media and their application for amperometric detection in micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MEKC) separations. These electrodes were prepared in two different ways: immobilization of a layer of carbon nanotubes dispersed in polyethylenimine (PEI), ethanol or Nafion onto glassy carbon electrodes or preparation of paste electrodes using mineral oil as binder. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed for surface morphology characterization while cyclic voltammetry of background electrolyte was used for capacitance estimation. The amperometric responses to hydrogen peroxide, amitrol, diuron and 2,3-diclorophenol (2,3CP) in the presence and in the absence of sodium dodecylsulphate (SDS) were studied by flow injection analysis (FIA), demonstrating that the electrocatalytic activity, background current and electroanalytical performance were strongly dependent on the electrodes preparation procedure. Glassy carbon electrodes modified with carbon nanotubes dispersed in PEI (GC/(CNT/PEI)) displayed the most adequate performance in micellar media, maintaining good electrocatalytic properties combined with acceptable background currents and resistance to passivation. The advantages of using GC/(CNT/PEI) as detectors in capillary electrophoresis were illustrated for the MEKC separations of phenolic pollutants (phenol, 3-chlorophenol, 2,3-dichlorophenol and 4-nitrophenol) and herbicides (amitrol, asulam, diuron, fenuron, monuron and chlortoluron).     

Label‐free DNA Hybridization Based on Coupling of a Heated Carbon Paste Electrode with Magnetic Separations

The technique of electrically heated carbon paste electrodes is applied for label‐free detection of DNA hybridization after magnetic isolation. Coupling of both techniques leads to highly selective and sensitive detection of DNA hybridization. Minimal contributions of nonhybridized DNA are thus coupled to an enhanced signal. Application of elevated temperatures during the accumulation step yields a max. 6‐fold enhancement of guanine oxidation signals compared to room temperature deposition. Use of noncomplementary nucleic acids gives no significant peaks at room or elevated temperatures. The noise level remained unaffected. Variation of the target concentration results in linear calibration plots under hot accumulation conditions.     

Enhanced Hydrogen Peroxide Sensing Based on Tetraruthenated Porphyrins/Nafion/Glassy Carbon‐modified Electrodes via Incorporating of Carbon Nanotubes

The incorporation of carbon nanotubes to a Nafion/tetraruthenated cobalt porphyrin/ glassy carbon electrode (GC/Nf/CoTRP vs GC/Nf/CNTCoTRP) enhanced the amperometric determination of hydrogen peroxide. Both electrodes produced a decrease in the overpotential required for the hydrogen peroxide oxidation in about 100 mV compared to glassy carbon under the same experimental conditions. Nevertheless, for GC/Nf/CNT/CoTRP, the increase in the current is remarkable. The GC/Nf/CoTRP modified electrode gave no significant analitycal signal for hydrogen peroxide reduction. Moreover, a great increase in current is observed with GC/Nf/CNT/CoTRP at ?150mV which suggests a significant increase in the sensitivity of the modified electrode. Scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) revealed an enhancement in the electroactivity of the GC/Nf/CNT/CoTRP modified electrode. This fact has been explained in terms of enhanced homogeneity of the electrodic surface as a consecuence of better dispersibility of CNT‐CoTRP produced by a Nafion polyelectrolyte.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis> single-strand binding protein–DNA interactions on carbon nanotube-modified electrodes from a label-free electrochemical hybridization sensor

An electrochemical hybridization biosensor based on the intrinsic oxidation signals of nucleic acids and proteins has been designed, that makes use of the unique binding event between Escherichia coli single-strand binding protein (SSB) and single-stranded DNA (ssDNA). The voltammetric signal from guanine oxidation significantly decreased upon binding of SSB to single-stranded oligonucleotides (probe), anchored on a single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) -modified screen-printed carbon electrode (SPE). Simultaneously, oxidation of the tyrosine (Tyr) and tryptophan (Trp) residues of the SSB protein increased upon binding of the SSB protein to ssDNA and ss-oligonucleotides. After the hybridization, SSB did not bind to the double helix form, and the guanine signal could be observed along with the disappearance of the oxidation signal of the protein. The amplification of intrinsic guanine and protein oxidation signals by SWCNT, and a washing step with sodium dodecylsulfate, enabled the specific detection of a point mutation. Monitoring the changes in the guanine and protein signals upon hybridization greatly simplified the detection procedure. The detection limit of 0.15 g/ml target DNA can be applied to genetic assays. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work that utilizes the monitoring of SSB–DNA interactions on a solid transducer for the electrochemical detection of DNA hybridization by using intrinsic oxidation signals.     

Amplified label-free electrical detection of DNA hybridization

A new protocol is described for amplifying label-free electrochemical measurements of DNA hybridization based on the enhanced accumulation of purine nucleobases in the presence of copper ions . Such electrical DNA assays involve hybridization of the target to inosine-substituted oligonucleotide probes (captured on magnetic beads), acidic dipurinization of the hybrid DNA, and adsorptive chronopotentiometric stripping measurements of the free nucleobases in the presence of copper ions. Both amplified adenine and guanine peaks can be used for detecting the DNA hybridization. The dramatic signal amplification advantage of this type of detection has been combined with efficient magnetic removal of non-complementary DNA, use of microliter sample volumes and disposable transducers. Factors influencing the signal enhancement were assessed and optimized. A detection limit of 40 fmol (250 pg) was obtained with 10 min hybridization and 5 min adsorptive-accumulation times. The advantages of this procedure were demonstrated by its application in the detection of DNA segments related to the BRCA1 breast cancer gene. The copper enhancement holds great promise not only for the detection of DNA hybridization, but also for trace measurement of nucleic acids.     

DNA‐Directed Attachment of Carbon Nanotubes for Enhanced Label‐Free Electrochemical Detection of DNA Hybridization

Multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were used as nanowires, which combined DNA molecules to a carbon paste electrode (CPE). The attachment of MWNT on the electrode surface was controlled by a hybridization assay between adenine and thymine containing oligonucleotides. The appearance of guanine oxidation signal after hybridization with target DNA greatly simplified the specific sequence DNA detection mechanism. Combination of sidewall‐ and end‐functionalization of MWNT provided a significant enhancement in the voltammetric signal of guanine oxidation in comparison with the signals obtained from only end‐oxidized MWNT modified CPE and a bare CPE. A control experiment involving adenine containing polynucleotide (poly(A)) instead of adenine probe modified MWNT was performed. The effect of target and noncomplementary DNA concentration on the guanine signal was also monitored. Discrimination against single‐base mismatch and noncomplementary DNA was achieved by surfactant containing washing solution. The promising conductivity of carbon nanotubes, and the creation of a larger surface area for DNA immobilization by sidewall‐ and end‐oxidation of MWNT provided a detection limit down to 10 pg/mL, which is compatible with the demand of the genetic tests.     

Label‐Free Bioelectronic Detection of Point Mutation by Using Peptide Nucleic Acid Probes

An electrochemical hybridization biosensor based on peptide nucleic acid (PNA) probes with a label‐free protocol is described. The detection of PNA‐DNA and DNA‐DNA hybridizations were accomplished based on the oxidation signal of guanine by using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) at carbon paste electrode (CPE). It was observed that the oxidation signals of guanine obtained from the PNA and DNA probe modified CPEs were higher than those obtained from the PNA‐DNA and DNA‐DNA hybrid modified CPEs due to the accessible unbound guanine bases. The detection of hybridization between PNA probe and point mutation containing DNA target sequences was clearly observed due to the difference of the oxidation signals of guanine bases, because the point mutation was guanine nearly at the middle of the sequence. The effect of the DNA target concentration on the hybridization signal was also observed. The PNA probe was also challenged with excessive and equal amount of noncomplementary DNA and also mixtures of point mutation and target DNA.     

Carbon nanotube-modified electrodes for electrochemical DNA-sensors

Glassy-carbon electrodes (GCEs) are modified with preoxidized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNTs). According to the data of atomic force microscopy, the layers of CNTs on GCEs possess a homogeneous nanostructurized surface. The voltammetric properties of a GCE/CNT depend on the modifier load. Guanine and deoxyguanosine monophosphate are strongly adsorbed on GCE/CNT and oxidized at +690 and +930 mV (pH 7.0), respectively. The oxidation current of guanine DNA nucleotides adsorbed on a GCE/CNT is significantly higher for the thermally denaturated biopolymer than for the native one. Our results are of interest for the development of sensors based on the electrochemical properties of nucleic acids.     

Enhanced Electrocatalytic Activity of Ni‐CNT Nanocomposites for Simultaneous Determination of Epinephrine and Dopamine

A promising electrochemical sensor based nickel‐carbon nanotube (Ni‐CNT) modified on glassy carbon (GC) electrode had been developed and the properties of the modified electrode were characterized by multispectroscopic analysis. The fabricated sensor (GC/Ni‐CNT) electrode was utilized to determine the catecholamines such as epinephrine and dopamine simultaneously. Differential pulse voltammetry and amperometry were used to verify the electrochemical behavior of the studied compounds. The GC/Ni‐CNT based amperometric sensor showed a wide linear range and low detection limit with high analytical sensitivity of 8.31 and 6.61 μA μM^?1 for EP and DA, respectively which demonstrates better characteristics compared to other electrodes reported in the literature. Further, no significant change in amperometric current response was observed in presence of biological interference species such as glucose, cysteine, citric acid, uric acid and ascorbic acid in the detection of EP and DA. The utility of this GC/Ni‐CNT electrode was well established for the determination of EP and DA in human urine samples.     

Carbon nanotube screen-printed electrochemical sensors

The fabrication, and evaluation of carbon-nanotube (CNT)-derived screen-printed (SP) electrochemical sensors based on a CNT ink are reported. The fabricated CNT strips combine the attractive advantages of CNT materials and disposable screen-printed electrodes. Such thick-film CNT sensors have a well-defined appearance, are mechanically stable, and exhibit high electrochemical reactivity.