Nanomaterial-Based Electrochemical DNA Detection

Ronen Polsky, Jason C. Harper, and Susan M. Brozik 

The field of biotechnology has witnessed extensive progress over the past decade in the use of nanomaterials to develop novel biosensors and electrochemical bioassays [1]. Perhaps the most 

1 Nanoparticle Modification of Electrodes and Their Use as Supports for DNA Immobilization 

Nanoparticles have been used extensively for the immobilization of biomolecules [3]. In addition to their biocompatibility they can produce a unique microenvironment that provides improvement in the freedom of orientation for affinity binding with advantages over planar substrates, an increase in surface area for higher probe loading capacities, and enhanced diffusion of amplification agents. Modification of electrode surfaces with nanoparticles can be carried out by simple electrostatic adsorption or covalent attachments such 

---

The topics discussed in the book include electrochemical detection of DNA hybridization based on latex/gold nanoparticles and nanotubes nanomaterial-based electrochemical DNA detection electrochemical detection of microorganism-based DNA biosensor gold nanoparticle-based electrochemical DNA biosensors electrochemical detection of the aptamer-target interaction nanoparticle-induced catalysis for DNA biosensing basic terms regarding electrochemical DNA (nucleic acids) biosensors screen-printed electrodes for electrochemical DNA detection application of field-effect transistors to label-free electrical DNA biosensor arrays and electrochemical detection of nucleic acids using branched DNA amplifiers. 

DNA biosensor technologies are under intense investigation owing to their great promise for the rapid and low-cost detection of specific DNA sequences. In the following sections, various DNA detection strategies based on electrochemical/electrical techniques that also involve nanomaterials and are with interest for food quality control will be described. 

As mentioned before, several electrochemical biosensors based on direct DNA detection or catalyzed oxidation of DNA G residues require the combination of nanomaterials, DNA-recognition, and electrical detection protocols, allowing them to improve the sensitivity of the devices. Other promising technologies for the analysis of DNA through the use of labels, as described in the following section, have been obtained. 

---