DNA electrochemical biosensors for environmental monitoring. A review

Characterization of Factors Affecting Stripping Voltammetry on Thermoplastic Electrodes

Thermoplastic carbon electrodes (TPEs) are an alternative form of carbon composite electrodes that have shown excellent electrochemical performance with applications in biological sensing. However, little has been done to apply TPEs to environmental sensing, specifically heavy metal analysis. The work here focuses on lead analysis and based on their electrochemical properties, TPEs are expected to outperform other carbon composite materials; however, despite testing multiple formulations, TPEs showed inferior performance. Detailed electrode characterization was conducted to examine the cause for poor lead sensing behavior. X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used to analyze the surface functional groups, indicating that acidic and alkaline functional groups impact lead electrodeposition. Further, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electrochemical characterization demonstrated that both the binder and graphite can influence the surface morphology, electroactive area, and electron kinetics.

Application of biosensors in cancers, an overview

The deadliest disease in the world, cancer, kills many people every year. The early detection is the only hope for the survival of malignant cancer patients. As a result, in the preliminary stages of, the diagnosis of cancer biomarkers at the cellular level is critical for improving cancer patient survival rates. For decades, scientists have focused their efforts on the invention of biosensors. Biosensors, in addition to being employed in other practical scenarios, can essentially function as cost effective and highly efficient devices for this purpose. Traditional cancer screening procedures are expensive, time-consuming, and inconvenient for repeat screenings. Biomarker-based cancer diagnosis, on the other hand, is rising as one of the most potential tools for early detection, disease progression monitoring, and eventual cancer treatment. As Biosensor is an analytical device, it allows the selected analyte to bind to the biomolecules being studied (for example RNA, DNA, tissue, proteins, and cells). They can be divided based on the kind of biorecognition or transducer elements on the sensor. Most biosensor analyses necessitate the analyte being labeled with a specific marker. In this review article, the application of distinct variants of biosensors against cancer has been described.

Unusual Selective Monitoring of N,N-Dimethylformamide in a Two-Dimensional Material Field-Effect Transistor

N,N-Dimethylformamide (DMF) is an essential solvent in industries and pharmaceutics. Its market size range was estimated to be 2 billion U.S. dollars in 2022. Monitoring DMF in solution environments in real time is significant because of its toxicity. However, DMF is not a redox-active molecule; therefore, selective monitoring of DMF in solutions, especially in polar aqueous solutions, in real time is extremely difficult. In this paper, we propose a selective DMF sensor using a molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) field-effect transistor (FET). The sensor responds to DMF molecules but not to similar molecules of formamide, N,N-diethylformamide, and N,N-dimethylacetamide. The plausible atomic mechanism is the oxygen substitution sites on MoS2, on which the DMF molecule shows an exceptional orientation. The thin structure of MoS2-FET can be incorporated into a microfluidic chamber, which leads to DMF monitoring in real time by exchanging solutions subsequently. The designed device shows DMF monitoring in NaCl ionic solutions from 1 to 200 μL/mL. This work proposes the concept of selectively monitoring redox-inactive molecules based on the nonideal atomic affinity site on the surface of two-dimensional semiconductors.

Nucleic acid-based electrochemical biosensors for rapid clinical diagnosis: advances, challenges, and opportunities

Clinical diagnostic tests should be quick, reliable, simple to perform, and affordable for diagnosis and treatment of diseases. In this regard, owing to their novel properties, biosensors have attracted the attention of scientists as well as end-users. They are efficient, stable, and relatively cheap. Biosensors have broad applications in medical diagnosis, including point-of-care (POC) monitoring, forensics, and biomedical research. The electrochemical nucleic acid (NA) biosensor, the latest invention in this field, combines the sensitivity of electroanalytical methods with the inherent bioselectivity of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA). The NA biosensor exploits the affinity of single-stranded DNA/RNA for its complementary strand and is used to detect complementary sequences of NA based on hybridization. After the NA component in the sensor detects the analyte, a catalytic reaction or binding event that generates an electrical signal in the transducer ensues. Since 2000, much progress has been made in this field, but there are still numerous challenges. This critical review describes the advances, challenges, and prospects of NA-based electrochemical biosensors for clinical diagnosis. It includes the basic principles, classification, sensing enhancement strategies, and applications of biosensors as well as their advantages, limitations, and future prospects, and thus it should be useful to academics as well as industry in the improvement and application of EC NA biosensors.

Copper sulfide nanostructures: synthesis and biological applications

Over the past few years, considerable attention has been paid to biomedical applications of copper sulfide nanostructures owing to their enhanced physiochemical and pharmacokinetics characteristics in comparison to gold, silver, and carbon nanomaterials. The small-sized Cu x S y nanoparticles have the advantage to absorb efficiently in the near-infrared region (NIR) above 700 nm and the absorption can be tuned by altering their stoichiometries. Moreover, their easy removal through the kidneys overpowers the issue of toxicity caused by many inorganic substances. The low cost and selectivity further add to the advantages of Cu x S y nanostructures as electrode materials in comparison to relatively expensive materials such as silver and gold nanoparticles. This review is mainly focused on the synthesis and biomedical applications of Cu x S y nanostructures. The first part summarizes the various synthetic routes used to produce Cu x S y nanostructures with varying morphologies, while the second part targets the recent progress made in the application of small-sized Cu x S y nanostructures as biosensors, and their analysis and uses in the cure of cancer. Photoacoustic imaging and other cancer treatment applications are discussed. Research on Cu x S y nanostructures will continue to increase over the next few decades, and great opportunities lie ahead for potential biomedical applications of Cu x S y nanostructures.

Nanostructured Carbons: towards Soft-Bioelectronics, Biosensing and Theraputic Applications

Recently, nanostructured carbon-based soft bioelectronics and biosensors have received tremendous attention due to their outstanding physical and chemical properties. The ultrahigh specific surface area, high flexibility, lightweight, high electrical conductivity, and biocompatibility of 1D and 2D nanocarbons, such as carbon nanotubes (CNT) and graphene, are advantageous for bioelectronics applications. These materials improve human life by delivering therapeutic advancements in gene, tumor, chemo, photothermal, immune, radio, and precision therapies. They are also utilized in biosensing platforms, including optical and electrochemical biosensors to detect cholesterol, glucose, pathogenic bacteria (e. g., coronavirus), and avian leucosis virus. This review summarizes the most recent advancements in bioelectronics and biosensors by exploiting the outstanding characteristics of nanocarbon materials. The synthesis and biocompatibility of nanocarbon materials are briefly discussed. In the following sections, applications of graphene and CNTs for different therapies and biosensing are elaborated. Finally, the key challenges and future perspectives of nanocarbon materials for biomedical applications are highlighted.

Substrate-Free Untagged Detection of miR393a Using an Ultrasensitive Electrochemical Biosensor

Rapid and sensitive detection of numerous regulatory pathways in growth and development processes and defensive responses in plant-pathogen interactions caused by miRNA has been the current interest of agricultural scientists. Herein, an uncomplicated ultrasensitive electrochemical biosensor was fabricated to detect miR393a, as its detection is of vital importance for plant diseases. A streptavidin-coated screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) was fabricated and characterized by scanning electrochemical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, surface plasmon resonance, and cyclic voltammetry. The two-dimensional (2D) structure and chemical functionality of the streptavidin-coated SPCE render it a superior platform for loading a modified probe via a 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide-N-hydroxysuccinimide linker. This biorecognition platform is capable of efficiently using its excellent conductivity, greater surface area, and effective electrochemical execution due to its synergistic effect between streptavidin and carbon electrodes. The biosensor showed a good linear response (R ² = 0.96) to miR393a concentrations ranging from 100 nM to 100 fM. This streptavidin-based biosensor is highly sensitive to the minimum concentration of miR393a, lowest detection limit, and ultrasensitivity under optimized conditions, i.e., 100 fM, 0.33 fM, and 33.72 μA fM^-1 cm^-2, respectively. In addition, remarkable recoveries could be obtained to confirm the feasibility of this assay in plant disease samples. The fabricated technology could offer a selective, adaptable, and farmer-friendly strategy for the timely detection of miRNA of plant samples.

Smartphone-Based Electrochemical System for Biosensors and Biodetection

With the advantages of high popularity, convenient operation, open-source operation systems, high resolution imaging, and excellent computing capabilities, smartphones have been widely used as the core of detection system for calculation, control, and real-time display. Hence, smartphones play an important role in electrochemical detection and optical detection. Smartphone-based electrochemical systems were combined with screen-printed electrode and interdigital electrodes for in situ detection. The electrodes were modified with biomaterials, chemical materials, and nanomaterials for biosensors and biodetection, such as 3-amino phenylboronic acid nanocomposites, graphene, gold nanoparticles, zinc oxide nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, proteins, peptides, and antibodies. With the modified electrodes, the smartphone-based impedance system was used to detect acetone, bovine serum albumin, human serum albumin, and trinitrotoluene, while smartphone-based amperometric system was employed to monitor glucose, ascorbic acid, dopamine, uric acid, and levodopa. The smartphone-based electrochemical system for biosensors and biodetection has provided miniaturized and portable alternative for diagnosis, which is promising to find application in point-of-care testing (POCT).

Nanoarchitectonics for Wide Bandgap Semiconductor Nanowires: Toward the Next Generation of Nanoelectromechanical Systems for Environmental Monitoring

Semiconductor nanowires are widely considered as the building blocks that revolutionized many areas of nanosciences and nanotechnologies. The unique features in nanowires, including high electron transport, excellent mechanical robustness, large surface area, and capability to engineer their intrinsic properties, enable new classes of nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS). Wide bandgap (WBG) semiconductors in the form of nanowires are a hot spot of research owing to the tremendous possibilities in NEMS, particularly for environmental monitoring and energy harvesting. This article presents a comprehensive overview of the recent progress on the growth, properties and applications of silicon carbide (SiC), group III-nitrides, and diamond nanowires as the materials of choice for NEMS. It begins with a snapshot on material developments and fabrication technologies, covering both bottom-up and top-down approaches. A discussion on the mechanical, electrical, optical, and thermal properties is provided detailing the fundamental physics of WBG nanowires along with their potential for NEMS. A series of sensing and electronic devices particularly for environmental monitoring is reviewed, which further extend the capability in industrial applications. The article concludes with the merits and shortcomings of environmental monitoring applications based on these classes of nanowires, providing a roadmap for future development in this fast-emerging research field.

A triplex-forming linear probe for sequence-specific detection of duplex DNA with high sensitivity and affinity

A triplex-forming oligonucleotide (TFO) linear probe containing perylene derivatives was synthesized. The TFO linear probe formed a remarkably stable triplex with a target DNA duplex, resulting in the light-up of fluorescence emission. The sensitivity was extremely high even at pH 7. Detection of PCR-amplified target DNA was demonstrated.

A Primer on Emerging Field-Deployable Synthetic Biology Tools for Global Water Quality Monitoring

Tracking progress towards Target 6.1 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, "achieving universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all", necessitates the development of simple, inexpensive tools to monitor water quality. The rapidly growing field of synthetic biology has the potential to address this need by taking DNA-encoded sensing elements from nature and reassembling them to create field-deployable 'biosensors' that can detect pathogenic or chemical water contaminants. Here we describe water quality monitoring strategies enabled by synthetic biology and compare them to previous approaches used to detect three priority water contaminants: fecal pathogens, arsenic, and fluoride in order to explain the potential for engineered biosensors to simplify and decentralize water quality monitoring. We also briefly discuss expanding biosensors to detect emerging contaminants including metals and pharmaceuticals. We conclude with an outlook on the future of biosensor development, in which we discuss adaptability to emerging contaminants, outline current limitations, and propose steps to overcome the field's outstanding challenges to facilitate global water quality monitoring.

Exonuclease III-assisted multiple cycle amplification for the sensitive detection of DNA with zero background signal

Detection of low-abundant DNA is essential for disease diagnosis and treatment. DNA polymerase-based amplification is frequently used due to its excellent sensitivity, but it suffers from time-consuming and labour-intensive procedures, complex template/primer design, and inherent nonspecific amplification. Alternatively, Exonuclease III (Exo III)-assisted target recycling provides a new approach for DNA assay because of its simplicity and general applicability, but it suffers from high background signal due to the nonspecific Exo III digestion and poor sensitivity due to single cycle signal amplification. Herein, we demonstrate the development of Exo III-assisted multiple cycle amplification (exonuclease chain reaction) for the sensitive detection of DNA with zero background signal. The binding of single-stranded DNA binding protein (SSB) to the hairpin probes can protect them from nonspecific digestion by Exo III, resulting in near zero background signal. The presence of the target DNA initiates the Exo III-triggered multiple cycle amplification, enabling the achievement of high sensitivity with a detection limit of 3 fM and excellent selectivity with single base mismatch discrimination capability, holding great potential in disease diagnosis and biomedical research.

Novel Applications of Microbial Fuel Cells in Sensors and Biosensors

A microbial fuel cell (MFC) is a type of bio-electrochemical system with novel features, such as electricity generation, wastewater treatment, and biosensor applications. In recent years, progressive trends in MFC research on its chemical, electrochemical, and microbiological aspects has resulted in its noticeable applications in the field of sensing. This review was consequently aimed to provide an overview of the most interesting new applications of MFCs in sensors, such as providing the required electrical current and power for remote sensors (energy supply device for sensors) and detection of pollutants, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and specific DNA strands by MFCs without an external analytical device (self-powered biosensors). Moreover, in this review, procedures of MFC operation as a power supply for pH, temperature, and organic loading rate (OLR) sensors, and also self-powered biosensors of toxicity, pollutants, and BOD have been discussed.

DNA Nanotweezers and Graphene Transistor Enable Label-Free Genotyping

Electronic DNA-biosensor with a single nucleotide resolution capability is highly desirable for personalized medicine. However, existing DNA-biosensors, especially single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) detection systems, have poor sensitivity and specificity and lack real-time wireless data transmission. DNA-tweezers with graphene field effect transistor (FET) are used for SNP detection and data are transmitted wirelessly for analysis. Picomolar sensitivity of quantitative SNP detection is achieved by observing changes in Dirac point shift and resistance change. The use of DNA-tweezers probe with high-quality graphene FET significantly improves analytical characteristics of SNP detection by enhancing the sensitivity more than 1000-fold in comparison to previous work. The electrical signal resulting from resistance changes triggered by DNA strand-displacement and related changes in the DNA geometry is recorded and transmitted remotely to personal electronics. Practical implementation of this enabling technology will provide cheaper, faster, and portable point-of-care molecular health status monitoring and diagnostic devices.

Layer-by-Layer-Assembled AuNPs-Decorated First-Generation Poly(amidoamine) Dendrimer with Reduced Graphene Oxide Core as Highly Sensitive Biosensing Platform with Controllable 3D Nanoarchitecture for Rapid Voltammetric Analysis of Ultratrace DNA Hybridization

The structure and electrochemical properties of layer-by-layer-assembled gold nanoparticles (AuNPs)-decorated first-generation (G1) poly(amidoamine) dendrimer (PD) with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) core as a highly sensitive and label-free biosensing platform with a controllable three-dimensional (3D) nanoarchitecture for the rapid voltammetric analysis of DNA hybridization at ultratrace levels were characterized. Mercaptopropinoic acid (MPA) was self-assembled onto Au substrate, then GG1PD formed by the covalent functionalization between the amino terminals of G1PD and carboxyl terminals of rGO was covalently linked onto MPA, and finally AuNPs were decorated onto GG1PD by strong physicochemical interaction between AuNPs and -OH of rGO in GG1PD, which was characterized through different techniques and confirmed by computational calculation. This 3D controllable thin-film electrode was optimized and evaluated using [Fe(CN)₆]^3-/4- as the redox probe and employed to covalently immobilize thiol-functionalized single-stranded DNA as biorecognition element to form the DNA nanobiosensor, which achieved fast, ultrasensitive, and high-selective differential pulse voltammetric analysis of DNA hybridization in a linear range from 1 × 10^-6 to 1 × 10^-13 g m^-1 with a low detection limit of 9.07 × 10^-14 g m^-1. This work will open a new pathway for the controllable 3D nanoarchitecture of the layer-by-layer-assembled metal nanoparticles-functionalized lower-generation PD with two-dimensional layered nanomaterials as cores that can be employed as ultrasensitive and label-free nanobiodevices for the fast diagnosis of specific genome diseases in the field of biomedicine.

Robust label-free microRNA detection using one million ISFET array

Detection of nucleic acid molecules is one of the most pervasive assays in biology, medicine, and agriculture applications. Currently, most comely used DNA/RNA detection platforms use fluorescence labeling and require lab-scale setting for performing the assay. There is a need for developing less expensive, label-free, and rapid detection of biomolecules with minimal utilization of resources. Use of electrical approaches for detection of biomolecules by utilizing their inherent charge is a promising direction for biosensing assays. Here, we report a 1024 × 1024 array of Ion Sensitive Field Effect Transistors (ISFET) as label free sensors for detection of nucleic acid molecules. Using PNA probe functionalized on these ISFET array, we robustly detected miRNA Let-7b by measuring changes in drain current after hybridization of target molecules with concentration as low as 1 nM. We demonstrate that mismatched or non-complementary target molecules resulted in statistically smaller changes. Most importantly, the high-density sensor array shows unprecedented reliability and robustness with P values <0.0001 for all experiments. Practical implementation of this platform could have a wide range of applications in high-throughput nucleic acid genotyping, detection of amplified pathogenic nucleic acid, detection of cell-free DNA, and electrical readouts for current hybridization-based DNA biomolecular assays.

Open-Source Potentiostat for Wireless Electrochemical Detection with Smartphones

This paper describes the design and characterization of an open-source "universal wireless electrochemical detector" (UWED). This detector interfaces with a smartphone (or a tablet) using "Bluetooth Low Energy" protocol; the smartphone provides (i) a user interface for receiving the experimental parameters from the user and visualizing the result in real time, and (ii) a proxy for storing, processing, and transmitting the data and experimental protocols. This approach simplifies the design, and decreases both the size and the cost of the hardware; it also makes the UWED adaptable to different types of analyses by simple modification of the software. The UWED can perform the most common electroanalytical techniques of potentiometry, chronoamperometry, cyclic voltammetry, and square wave voltammetry, with results closely comparable to benchtop commercial potentiostats. Although the operating ranges of electrical current and voltage of the UWED (±1.5 V, ±180 μA) are more limited than most benchtop commercial potentiostats, its functional range is sufficient for most electrochemical analyses in aqueous solutions. Because the UWED is simple, small in size, assembled from inexpensive components, and completely wireless, it offers new opportunities for the development of affordable diagnostics, sensors, and wearable devices.

Electrochemical DNA sensors based on spatially distributed redox mediators: challenges and promises

DNA and aptasensors are widely used for fast and reliable detection of disease biomarkers, pharmaceuticals, toxins, metabolites and other species necessary for biomedical diagnostics. In the overview, the concept of spatially distributed redox mediators is considered with particular emphasis to the signal generation and biospecific layer assembling. The application of non-conductive polymers bearing redox labels, supramolecular carriers with attached DNA aptamers and redox active dyes and E-sensor concept are considered as examples of the approach announced.

Aptamer-based biosensor for label-free detection of ethanolamine by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy

A label-free sensing assay for ethanolamine (EA) detection based on G-quadruplex-EA binding interaction is presented by using G-rich aptamer DNA (Ap-DNA) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The presence of K(+) induces the Ap-DNA to form a K(+)-stabilized G-quadruplex structure which provides binding sites for EA. The sensing mechanism was further confirmed by circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy and EIS measurement. As a result, the charge transfer resistance (RCT) is strongly increased as demonstrated by using the ferro/ferricyanide ([Fe(CN)6](3-/4-)) as a redox probe. Under the optimized conditions, a linear relationship between ΔRCT and EA concentration was obtained over the range of 0.16 nM and 16 nM EA, with a detection limit of 0.08 nM. Interference by other selected chemicals with similar structure was negligible. Analytical results of EA spiked into tap water and serum by the sensor suggested the assay could be successfully applied to real sample analysis. With the advantages of high sensitivity, selectivity and simple sensor construction, this method is potentially suitable for the on-site monitoring of EA contamination.

Highly specific SNP detection using 2D graphene electronics and DNA strand displacement

Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in a gene sequence are markers for a variety of human diseases. Detection of SNPs with high specificity and sensitivity is essential for effective practical implementation of personalized medicine. Current DNA sequencing, including SNP detection, primarily uses enzyme-based methods or fluorophore-labeled assays that are time-consuming, need laboratory-scale settings, and are expensive. Previously reported electrical charge-based SNP detectors have insufficient specificity and accuracy, limiting their effectiveness. Here, we demonstrate the use of a DNA strand displacement-based probe on a graphene field effect transistor (FET) for high-specificity, single-nucleotide mismatch detection. The single mismatch was detected by measuring strand displacement-induced resistance (and hence current) change and Dirac point shift in a graphene FET. SNP detection in large double-helix DNA strands (e.g., 47 nt) minimize false-positive results. Our electrical sensor-based SNP detection technology, without labeling and without apparent cross-hybridization artifacts, would allow fast, sensitive, and portable SNP detection with single-nucleotide resolution. The technology will have a wide range of applications in digital and implantable biosensors and high-throughput DNA genotyping, with transformative implications for personalized medicine.

A liquid-crystal-based DNA biosensor for pathogen detection

A liquid-crystal (LC)-filled transmission electron microscopy (TEM) grid cell coated with the cationic surfactant dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB), to which a single-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid probe (ssDNAprobe) was adsorbed at the LC/aqueous interface (TEMDTAB/DNA), was applied for the highly specific detection of target DNA molecules. The DTAB-coated E7 (used LC mixture) in the TEM grid (TEMDTAB) exhibited a homeotropic orientation, and changed to a planar orientation upon adsorption of the ssDNAprobe. The TEMDTAB/DNA was then exposed to complementary (target) ssDNA, which resulted in a planar-to-homeotropic configurational change of E7 that could be observed through a polarized optical microscope under crossed polarizers. The optimum adsorption density (2 μM) of ssDNAprobe enabled the detection of ≥0.05 nM complementary ssDNA. This TEMDTAB/DNA biosensor could differentiate complementary ssDNA from mismatched ssDNA as well as double-stranded DNA. It also successfully detected the genomic DNAs of the bacterium Erwinia carotovora and the fungi Rhazictonia solani. Owe to the high specificity, sensitivity, and label-free detection, this biosensor may broaden the applications of LC-based biosensors to pathogen detection.

A signal-on electrochemical DNA biosensor based on potential-assisted Cu(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition mediated labeling of hairpin-like oligonucleotide with electroactive probe

A novel electrochemical biosensor was developed for the signal-on detection of sequence-specific DNA by exploiting potential-assisted Cu(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (φCuAAC) as an efficient approach for the labeling of hairpin-like oligonucleotide (hairpin) with electroactive probe. The hairpins, dually labeled with thiol and azide at either terminal, were firstly self-assembled on gold electrode and served as the capture probes for the specific recognition of target DNA. Upon hybridization with target DNA, the surface-confined hairpins were unfolded, liberating the azide-containing terminals away from electrode surface. Subsequently, the unfolded hairpins were conveniently and efficiently labeled with ethynylferrocene (EFC) via the φCuAAC. The quantitatively labeled EFC was finally measured via differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) for the signal-on electrochemical detection of sequence-specific DNA. The biosensor presented a good linear response over the range from 1pM to 1nM with a detection limit of 0.62pM. Results also revealed that it was highly specific and held a good detection capability in serum samples. Furthermore, the ability to chemoselectively label hairpin-like oligonucleotide with signal reporter by electrical addressing, together with the simplicity and efficiency of the φCuAAC, makes it compatible with microfluidic devices and microelectrode arrays to achieve the miniaturized and multiplexed detections.

Application of nanomaterials in the bioanalytical detection of disease-related genes

In the diagnosis of genetic diseases and disorders, nanomaterials-based gene detection systems have significant advantages over conventional diagnostic systems in terms of simplicity, sensitivity, specificity, and portability. In this review, we describe the application of nanomaterials for disease-related genes detection in different methods excluding PCR-related method, such as colorimetry, fluorescence-based methods, electrochemistry, microarray methods, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) methods, and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The most commonly used nanomaterials are gold, silver, carbon and semiconducting nanoparticles. Various nanomaterials-based gene detection methods are introduced, their respective advantages are discussed, and selected examples are provided to illustrate the properties of these nanomaterials and their emerging applications for the detection of specific nucleic acid sequences.

Integrated electrochemical microsystems for genetic detection of pathogens at the point of care

The capacity to achieve rapid, sensitive, specific, quantitative, and multiplexed genetic detection of pathogens via a robust, portable, point-of-care platform could transform many diagnostic applications. And while contemporary technologies have yet to effectively achieve this goal, the advent of microfluidics provides a potentially viable approach to this end by enabling the integration of sophisticated multistep biochemical assays (e.g., sample preparation, genetic amplification, and quantitative detection) in a monolithic, portable device from relatively small biological samples. Integrated electrochemical sensors offer a particularly promising solution to genetic detection because they do not require optical instrumentation and are readily compatible with both integrated circuit and microfluidic technologies. Nevertheless, the development of generalizable microfluidic electrochemical platforms that integrate sample preparation and amplification as well as quantitative and multiplexed detection remains a challenging and unsolved technical problem. Recognizing this unmet need, we have developed a series of microfluidic electrochemical DNA sensors that have progressively evolved to encompass each of these critical functionalities. For DNA detection, our platforms employ label-free, single-step, and sequence-specific electrochemical DNA (E-DNA) sensors, in which an electrode-bound, redox-reporter-modified DNA "probe" generates a current change after undergoing a hybridization-induced conformational change. After successfully integrating E-DNA sensors into a microfluidic chip format, we subsequently incorporated on-chip genetic amplification techniques including polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) to enable genetic detection at clinically relevant target concentrations. To maximize the potential point-of-care utility of our platforms, we have further integrated sample preparation via immunomagnetic separation, which allowed the detection of influenza virus directly from throat swabs and developed strategies for the multiplexed detection of related bacterial strains from the blood of septic mice. Finally, we developed an alternative electrochemical detection platform based on real-time LAMP, which not is only capable of detecting across a broad dynamic range of target concentrations, but also greatly simplifies quantitative measurement of nucleic acids. These efforts represent considerable progress toward the development of a true sample-in-answer-out platform for genetic detection of pathogens at the point of care. Given the many advantages of these systems, and the growing interest and innovative contributions from researchers in this field, we are optimistic that iterations of these systems will arrive in clinical settings in the foreseeable future.

Optical and dielectric sensors based on antimicrobial peptides for microorganism diagnosis

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are natural compounds isolated from a wide variety of organisms that include microorganisms, insects, amphibians, plants, and humans. These biomolecules are considered as part of the innate immune system and are known as natural antibiotics, presenting a broad spectrum of activities against bacteria, fungi, and/or viruses. Technological innovations have enabled AMPs to be utilized for the development of novel biodetection devices. Advances in nanotechnology, such as the synthesis of nanocomposites, nanoparticles, and nanotubes have permitted the development of nanostructured platforms with biocompatibility and greater surface areas for the immobilization of biocomponents, arising as additional tools for obtaining more efficient biosensors. Diverse AMPs have been used as biological recognition elements for obtaining biosensors with more specificity and lower detection limits, whose analytical response can be evaluated through electrochemical impedance and fluorescence spectroscopies. AMP-based biosensors have shown potential for applications such as supplementary tools for conventional diagnosis methods of microorganisms. In this review, conventional methods for microorganism diagnosis as well new strategies using AMPs for the development of impedimetric and fluorescent biosensors are highlighted. AMP-based biosensors show promise as methods for diagnosing infections and bacterial contaminations as well as applications in quality control for clinical analyses and microbiological laboratories.

Synthesis of mixed-sequence oligonucleotides on mesoporous silicon: chemical strategies and material stability

Rapid screening tests in medical diagnostic and environmental analysis are often based on oligonucleotide biochips. In this paper, we studied the stability of functionalized mesoporous silicon supports in the solid-phase synthesis of oligonucleotides, exploiting several chemical procedures. A 19-mer mixed sequence has been successfully synthesized on aminosilane-modified porous silicon photonic structures. The process and the materials have been characterized by optical reflectivity, atomic force microscopy and high-performance liquid chromatography.

Construction of spherical liposome on solid transducers for electrochemical DNA sensing and transfection

Cationic 1,2-dioleoyl trimethyl ammonium propane (DOTAP) and neutral 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DOPE) are anchored on cysteamine (cyst), mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) monolayer (thiol monolayers) modified on an individual gold transducer. DOTAP and DOPE are mixed with gold nanoparticle (AuNP) to form spherical liposome-AuNP. The electrochemical behaviors of the surface attached DOTAP-AuNP and DOPE-AuNP in presence of [Fe(CN)6](3-/4-) depend on the method of layer formation. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and ultraviolet (UV)-visible spectroscopic techniques are used to characterize the liposome-AuNP nanocomposite. The studies indicate stability of spherical liposome-AuNP on the gold transducer. Label-free DNA hybridization detection on these surfaces reveals different detection limits. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) is used to confirm the cell transfection.

A photoelectrochemical biosensor for o-aminophenol based on assembling of CdSe and DNA on TiO2 film electrode

A novel photoelectrochemical (PEC) biosensing platform was constructed by assembling CdSe quantum dots (QDs) and DNA on liquid phase deposited TiO2 (DNA-CdSe/TiO2) film electrode. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis indicated that CdSe QDs were homogeneously assembled on TiO2 film. The UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS) showed that CdSe and DNA could effectively enhance the absorption of TiO2 film to visible light. The obtained electrode showed a sensitive PEC response to o-aminophenol (OAP) under visible light irradiation. Due to the interaction between DNA and OAP, the response of OAP was improved by DNA immobilized on the sensing film. Under optimized conditions, the photocurrent was linearly proportional to OAP in the concentration range from 4.0 × 10(-7) to 2.7 × 10(-5) mol L(-1), with a detection limit (3S/N) of 8.0 × 10(-8) mol L(-1). The novel strategy could provide a fast and sensitive method for OAP determination.

Different interfacial behaviors of N- and C-terminus cysteine-modified cecropin P1 chemically immobilized onto polymer surface

Sum frequency generation (SFG) vibrational spectroscopy and attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) were used to investigate the orientation of N-terminus cysteine-modified cecropin P1 (cCP1) at the polystyrene maleimide (PS-MA)/peptide phosphate buffer solution interface. The cCP1 cysteine group reacts with the maleimide group on the PS-MA surface to chemically immobilize cCP1. Previously, we found that the C-terminus cysteine-modified cecropin P1 (CP1c) molecules exhibit a multiple-orientation distribution at the PS-MA/peptide phosphate buffer solution interface, due to simultaneous physical adsorption and chemical immobilization of CP1c on the PS-MA surface. Differently, in this research, it was found that the interfacial orientation of cCP1 molecules varied from a horizontal orientation to the "tilting" orientation to the "standing up" orientation and then to the "multiple-orientation" distribution as the peptide concentration increased from 0.19 to 3.74 μM. This research shows the different interaction mechanisms between CP1c and PS-MA and between cCP1 and PS-MA.

Electrochemical detection of the amino-substituted naphthalene compounds based on intercalative interaction with hairpin DNA by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy

The amino-substituted naphthalene compounds, such as 1,8-diaminonaphthalene (1,8-DANAP), 2,3-diaminonaphthalene (2,3-DANAP), 1,5-diaminonaphthalene (1,5-DANAP), 1-naphthylamine (1-NAP) and 2-naphthylamine (2-NAP), were investigated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), which was based on the interaction with hairpin DNA immobilized on the gold electrodes. Upon hairpin DNA interacting with the target chemicals, the charge transfer resistance (RCT) of the hairpin DNA films was significantly decreased and the charge transfer resistance change (ΔR(CT)) decreased in a sequence of ΔR(CT) (1,8-DANAP)>ΔR(CT) (2,3-DANAP)>ΔR(CT) (1,5-DANAP)>ΔR(CT) (1-NAP)>ΔR(CT) (2-NAP). The ΔR(CT) changes were due to the difference in the binding constant (K(SV)) of the target chemicals to DNA. In addition, the interaction mechanism was further explored using 1,8-DANAP as a model analyte by fluorescence spectra, Raman spectroscopy, differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) and EIS, correspondingly. The results demonstrated that the amino-substituted naphthalene compounds intercalated into "stem" appearing in the hairpin DNA. Moreover, the hairpin DNA sensor exhibited high sensitivity to the amino-substituted naphthalene compounds with the detection limit of nano-mole, and maintained high selectivity over other selected environmental pollutants. Finally, the DNA sensor was challenged in natural water sample with a recovery of 96-102%, which offered a platform for prospective future development of a simple, rapid, sensitive and low-cost assay for the detection of target aromatic amine pollutants.

An ultrasensitive electrochemical impedance sensor for a special BRCA1 breast cancer gene sequence based on lambda exonuclease assisted target recycling amplification

A label-free, target recycling electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) DNA sensor has been developed for detection of a model related to the BRCA1 breast cancer gene with a detection limit of 0.05 nM.

Rapid, sensitive, and quantitative detection of pathogenic DNA at the point of care through microfluidic electrochemical quantitative loop-mediated isothermal amplification

Single-step DNA detection: a microfluidic electrochemical loop mediated isothermal amplification platform is reported for rapid, sensitive, and quantitative detection of pathogen genomic DNA at the point of care. DNA amplification was electrochemically monitored in real time within a monolithic microfluidic device, thus enabling the detection of as few as 16 copies of Salmonella genomic DNA through a single-step process in less than an hour.