Tetrahedron-structured DNA and functional oligonucleotide for construction of an electrochemical DNA-based biosensor

Branched hybridization chain reaction and tetrahedral DNA-based trivalent aptamer powered SERS sensor for ultra-highly sensitive detection of cancer-derived exosomes

Exosomes have emerged as a promising noninvasive biomarker for early cancer diagnosis due to their ability to carry specific bioinformation related to cancer cells. However, accurate detection of trace amount of cancer-derived exosomes in complex blood remains a significant challenge. Herein, an ultra-highly sensitive SERS sensor, powered by the branched hybridization chain reaction (bHCR) and tetrahedral DNA-based trivalent aptamer (triApt-TDN), has been proposed for precise detection of cancer-derived exosomes. Taking gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells-derived exosomes as a test model, the triApt-TDNs were constructed by conjugating aptamers specific to mucin 1 (MUC1) protein with tetrahedral DNAs and subsequently immobilized on the surface of silver nanorods (AgNRs) arrays to create SERS-active sensing chips capable of specifically capturing exosomes overexpressing MUC1 proteins. The bHCR was further initiated by the trigger aptamers (tgApts) bound to exosomes, and as a result the SERS tags were assembled into AuNP network structures with abundant SERS hotspots. By optimizing the sensing conditions, the SERS sensor showed good performance in ultra-highly sensitive detection of target exosomes within 60 min detection time, with a broad response ranging of 1.44 to 1.44 × 104 particles·μL-1 and an ultralow limit of detection capable of detecting a single exosome in 2 μL sample. Furthermore, the SERS sensor exhibited good uniformity, repeatability and specificity, and capability to distinguish between gastric cancer (GC) patients and healthy controls (HC) through the detection of exosomes in clinical human serums, indicating its promising clinical potential for early diagnosis of gastric cancer.

Charge Transfer Mechanism in Guanine-Based Self-Assembled Monolayers on a Gold Surface

In this work, we have theoretically determined the one-electron oxidation potentials and charge transfer mechanisms in complex systems based on a self-assembled monolayer of guanine molecules adsorbed on a gold surface through different organic linkers. Classical molecular dynamics simulations were carried out to sample the conformational space of both the neutral and the cationic species. Thus, the redox potentials were determined for the ensembles of geometries through multiscale quantum-mechanics/molecular-mechanics/continuum solvation model calculations in the framework of the Marcus theory and in combination with an additive scheme previously developed. In this context, conformational sampling, description of the environment, and effects caused by the linker have been considered. Applying this methodology, we unravel the phenomena of electric current transport by evaluating the different stages in which charge transfer could occur. The results revealed how the positive charge migrates from the organic layer to the gold surface. Specifically, the transport mechanism seems to take place mainly along a single ligand and driven with the help of the electrostatic interactions of the surrounding molecules. Aside, several self-assembled monolayers with different linkers have been analyzed to understand how the nature of that moiety can tune the redox properties and the efficiency of the transport. We have found that the conjugation between the guanine and the linker, at the same time conjugated to the gold surface, gives rise to a more efficient transport. In conclusion, the established computational protocol sheds light on the mechanism behind charge transport in electrochemical DNA-based biosensor nanodevices.

Modeling One-Electron Oxidation Potentials and Hole Delocalization in Double-Stranded DNA by Multilayer and Dynamic Approaches

The number of innovative applications for DNA nowadays is growing quickly. Its use as a nanowire or electrochemical biosensor leads to the need for a deep understanding of the charge-transfer process along the strand, as well as its redox properties. These features are computationally simulated and analyzed in detail throughout this work by combining molecular dynamics, multilayer schemes, and the Marcus theory. One-electron oxidation potential and hole delocalization have been analyzed for six DNA double strands that cover all possible binary combinations of nucleotides. The results have revealed that the one-electron oxidation potential decreases with respect to the single-stranded DNA, giving evidence that the greater rigidity of a double helix induces an increase in the capacity of storing the positive charge generated upon oxidation. In addition, the hole is mainly stored in nucleobases with large reducer character, i.e., purines, especially when those are arranged in a stacked configuration in the same strand. From the computational point of view, the sampling needed to describe biological systems implies a significant computational cost. Here, we show that a small number of representative conformations generated by clustering analysis provides accurate results when compared with those obtained from sampling, reducing considerably the computational cost.

One-Electron Oxidation Potentials and Hole Delocalization in Heterogeneous Single-Stranded DNA

The study of DNA processes is essential to understand not only its intrinsic biological functions but also its role in many innovative applications. The use of DNA as a nanowire or electrochemical biosensor leads to the need for a deep investigation of the charge transfer process along the strand as well as of the redox properties. In this contribution, the one-electron oxidation potential and the charge delocalization of the hole formed after oxidation are computationally investigated for different heterogeneous single-stranded DNA strands. We have established a two-step protocol: (i) molecular dynamics simulations in the frame of quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) were performed to sample the conformational space; (ii) energetic properties were then obtained within a QM1/QM2/continuum approach in combination with the Marcus theory over an ensemble of selected geometries. The results reveal that the one-electron oxidation potential in the heterogeneous strands can be seen as a linear combination of that property within the homogeneous strands. In addition, the hole delocalization between different nucleobases is, in general, small, supporting the conclusion of a hopping mechanism for charge transport along the strands. However, charge delocalization becomes more important, and so does the tunneling mechanism contribution, when the reducing power of the nucleobases forming the strand is similar. Moreover, charge delocalization is slightly enhanced when there is a correlation between pairs of some of the interbase coordinates of the strand: twist/shift, twist/slide, shift/slide, and rise/tilt. However, the internal structure of the strand is not the predominant factor for hole delocalization but the specific sequence of nucleotides that compose the strand.

Surface immobilization strategies for the development of electrochemical nucleic acid sensors

Following the recent pandemic and with the emergence of cell-free nucleic acids in liquid biopsies as promising biomarkers for a broad range of pathologies, there is an increasing demand for a new generation of nucleic acid tests, with a particular focus on cost-effective, highly sensitive and specific biosensors. Easily miniaturized electrochemical sensors show the greatest promise and most typically rely on the chemical functionalization of conductive materials or electrodes with sequence-specific hybridization probes made of standard oligonucleotides (DNA or RNA) or synthetic analogues (e.g. Peptide Nucleic Acids or PNAs). The robustness of such sensors is mostly influenced by the ability to control the density and orientation of the probe at the surface of the electrode, making the chemistry used for this immobilization a key parameter. This exhaustive review will cover the various strategies to immobilize nucleic acid probes onto different solid electrode materials. Both physical and chemical immobilization techniques will be presented. Their applicability to specific electrode materials and surfaces will also be discussed as well as strategies for passivation of the electrode surface as a way of preventing electrode fouling and reducing nonspecific binding.

Intramolecular and intermolecular hole delocalization rules the reducer character of isolated nucleobases and homogeneous single-stranded DNA

The use of DNA strands as nanowires or electrochemical biosensors requires a deep understanding of charge transfer processes along the strand, as well as of the redox properties. These properties are computationally assessed in detail throughout this study. By applying molecular dynamics and hybrid QM/continuum and QM/QM/continuum schemes, the vertical ionization energies, adiabatic ionization energies, vertical attachment energies, one-electron oxidation potentials, and delocalization of the hole generated upon oxidation have been determined for nucleobases in their free form and as part of a pure single-stranded DNA. We show that the reducer ability of the isolated nucleobases is explained by the intramolecular delocalization of the positively charged hole, while the enhancement of the reducer character when going from aqueous solution to the strand correlates very well with the intermolecular hole delocalization. Our simulations suggest that the redox properties of DNA strands can be tuned by playing with the balance between intramolecular and intermolecular charge delocalization.

An Efficient Multilayer Approach to Model DNA-Based Nanobiosensors

In this work, we present a full computational protocol to successfully obtain the one-electron reduction potential of nanobiosensors based on a self-assembled monolayer of DNA nucleobases linked to a gold substrate. The model is able to account for conformational sampling and environmental effects at a quantum mechanical (QM) level efficiently, by combining molecular mechanics (MM) molecular dynamics and multilayer QM/MM/continuum calculations within the framework of Marcus theory. The theoretical model shows that a guanine-based biosensor is more prone to be oxidized than the isolated nucleobase in water due to the electrostatic interactions between the assembled guanine molecules. In addition, the redox properties of the biosensor can be tuned by modifying the nature of the linker that anchor the nucleobases to the metal support.

Computation of Oxidation Potentials of Solvated Nucleobases by Static and Dynamic Multilayer Approaches

The determination of the redox properties of nucleobases is of paramount importance to get insight into the charge-transfer processes in which they are involved, such as those occurring in DNA-inspired biosensors. Although many theoretical and experimental studies have been conducted, the value of the one-electron oxidation potentials of nucleobases is not well-defined. Moreover, the most appropriate theoretical protocol to model the redox properties has not been established yet. In this work, we have implemented and evaluated different static and dynamic approaches to compute the one-electron oxidation potentials of solvated nucleobases. In the static framework, two thermodynamic cycles have been tested to assess their accuracy against the direct determination of oxidation potentials from the adiabatic ionization energies. Then, the introduction of vibrational sampling, the effect of implicit and explicit solvation models, and the application of the Marcus theory have been analyzed through dynamic methods. The results revealed that the static direct determination provides more accurate results than thermodynamic cycles. Moreover, the effect of sampling has not shown to be relevant, and the results are improved within the dynamic framework when the Marcus theory is applied, especially in explicit solvent, with respect to the direct approach. Finally, the presence of different tautomers in water does not affect significantly the one-electron oxidation potentials.

DNA-Based Biosensors for the Biochemical Analysis: A Review

In recent years, DNA-based biosensors have shown great potential as the candidate of the next generation biomedical detection device due to their robust chemical properties and customizable biosensing functions. Compared with the conventional biosensors, the DNA-based biosensors have advantages such as wider detection targets, more durable lifetime, and lower production cost. Additionally, the ingenious DNA structures can control the signal conduction near the biosensor surface, which could significantly improve the performance of biosensors. In order to show a big picture of the DNA biosensor's advantages, this article reviews the background knowledge and recent advances of DNA-based biosensors, including the functional DNA strands-based biosensors, DNA hybridization-based biosensors, and DNA templated biosensors. Then, the challenges and future directions of DNA-based biosensors are discussed and proposed.

Ionic Current Fluctuation and Orientation of Tetrahedral DNA Nanostructures in a Solid-State Nanopore

Understanding the dynamic behavior of a nanostructure translocating through a nanopore is important for various applications. In this paper, the characteristics in ion current traces of tetrahedral DNA nanostructures (TDN) translocating through a solid-state nanopore are examined, by combined experimental and theoretical simulations. The results of finite element analysis reveal the correlation between orientation of TDN and the conductance blockade. The experimentally measured fluctuations in the conductance blockade, expressed as voltage-dependent histogram profiles, are consistent with the simulation, revealing the nature of a random distribution in orientation and weak influence of electrostatic and viscous torques. The step changes in orientation of a TDN during translocation are further explained by the collision with the nanopore, while the gradual changes in orientation illustrate the impact of a weak torque field in the nano-fluidic channel. The results demonstrate a general method and basic understanding in the dynamic behavior of nanostructures translocating through solid-state nanopores.

Infrared Plasmonic Biosensor with Tetrahedral DNA Nanostructure as Carriers for Label-Free and Ultrasensitive Detection of miR-155

MicroRNAs play an important role in early development, cell proliferation, apoptosis, and cell death, and are aberrantly expressed in many types of cancers. To understand their function and diagnose cancer at an early stage, it is crucial to quantitatively detect microRNA without invasive labels. Here, a plasmonic biosensor based on surface-enhanced infrared absorption (SEIRA) for rapid, label-free, and ultrasensitive detection of miR-155 is reported. This technology leverages metamaterial perfect absorbers stimulating the SEIRA effect to provide up to 1000-fold near-field intensity enhancement over the microRNA fingerprint spectral bands. Additionally, it is discovered that the limit of detection (LOD) of the biosensor can be greatly improved by using tetrahedral DNA nanostructure (TDN) as carriers. By using near-field enhancement of SEIRA and specific binding of TDN, the biosensor achieves label-free detection of miR-155 with a high sensitivity of 1.162% pm^-1 and an excellent LOD of 100 × 10^-15 m. The LOD is about 5000 times lower than that using DNA single strand as probes and about 100 times lower than that of the fluorescence detection method. This work can not only provide a powerful diagnosis tool for the microRNAs detection but also gain new insights into the field of label-free and ultrasensitive SEIRA-based biosensing.

Immobilization Techniques for Aptamers on Gold Electrodes for the Electrochemical Detection of Proteins: A Review

The development of reliable biosensing platforms plays a key role in the detection of proteins in clinically and environmentally derived samples for diagnostics, as well as for process monitoring in biotechnological productions. For this purpose, the biosensor has to be stable and reproducible, and highly sensitive to detect potentially extremely low concentrations and prevent the nonspecific binding of interfering compounds. In this review, we present an overview of recently published (2017–2019) immobilization techniques for aptamers on gold electrodes for the electrochemical detection of proteins. These include the direct immobilization of thiolated aptamers and the utilization of short linkers, streptavidin/biotin interaction, as well as DNA nanostructures and reduced graphene oxide as immobilization platforms. Applied strategies for signal amplification and the prevention of biofouling are additionally discussed, as they play a crucial role in the design of biosensors. While a wide variety of amplification strategies are already available, future investigations should aim to establish suitable antifouling strategies that are compatible with electrochemical measurements. The focus of our review lies on the detailed discussion of the underlying principles and the presentation of utilized chemical protocols in order to provide the reader with promising ideas and profound knowledge of the subject, as well as an update on recent discoveries and achievements.

DNA framework-engineered electrochemical biosensors

Self-assembled DNA nanostructures have shown remarkable potential in the engineering of biosensing interfaces, which can improve the performance of various biosensors. In particular, by exploiting the structural rigidity and programmability of the framework nucleic acids with high precision, molecular recognition on the electrochemical biosensing interface has been significantly enhanced, leading to the development of highly sensitive and specific biosensors for nucleic acids, small molecules, proteins, and cells. In this review, we summarize recent advances in DNA framework-engineered biosensing interfaces and the application of corresponding electrochemical biosensors.

Functional-DNA-Driven Dynamic Nanoconstructs for Biomolecule Capture and Drug Delivery

The discovery of sequence-specific hybridization has allowed the development of DNA nanotechnology, which is divided into two categories: 1) structural DNA nanotechnology, which utilizes DNA as a biopolymer; and 2) dynamic DNA nanotechnology, which focuses on the catalytic reactions or displacement of DNA structures. Recently, numerous attempts have been made to combine DNA nanotechnologies with functional DNAs such as aptamers, DNAzymes, amplified DNA, polymer-conjugated DNA, and DNA loaded on functional nanoparticles for various applications; thus, the new interdisciplinary research field of "functional DNA nanotechnology" is initiated. In particular, a fine-tuned nanostructure composed of functional DNAs has shown immense potential as a programmable nanomachine by controlling DNA dynamics triggered by specific environments. Moreover, the programmability and predictability of functional DNA have enabled the use of DNA nanostructures as nanomedicines for various biomedical applications, such as cargo delivery and molecular drugs via stimuli-mediated dynamic structural changes of functional DNAs. Here, the concepts and recent case studies of functional DNA nanotechnology and nanostructures in nanomedicine are reviewed, and future prospects of functional DNA for nanomedicine are indicated.

Framework-Nucleic-Acid-Enabled Biosensor Development

Nucleic acids have been actively exploited to develop various exquisite nanostructures due to their unparalleled programmability. Especially, framework nucleic acids (FNAs) with tailorable functionality and precise addressability hold great promise for biomedical applications. In this review, we summarize recent progress of FNA-enabled biosensing in homogeneous solutions, on heterogeneous surfaces, and inside cells. We describe the strategies to translate the structural order and rigidity of FNAs to interfacial engineering with high controllability, and approaches to realize multiplexing for highly parallel in vitro detection. We also envision the marriage of the currently available FNA tool sets with other emerging technologies to develop a new generation of biosensors for precision diagnosis and bioimaging.

Self-standing aptamers by an artificial defect-rich matrix

The classical alkanethiol post-passivation can prevent nonspecific binding of nucleotide bases onto supporting substrates and help aptamers transition from a "lying down" to a "standing up" orientation. However, the surface probes display lower binding affinity towards targets than those in bulk solutions due to unsatisfied hybridization spaces on the alkanethiol passivated substrate. To overcome this challenge, an artificial defect-rich matrix possessing an aptamer "self-standing" property created by chemical lift-off lithography (CLL) is demonstrated. This approach provided artificial defects on a hydroxyl-terminated alkanethiol self-assembled monolayer (SAM), which allowed the insertion of thiolated aptamers. The diluted surface molecular environment assisted aptamers not only to "self-stand" on the surface, but also to separate from each other, providing a suitable surface aptamer density and sufficient space for capturing targets. With this approach, the binding affinity of the aptamer towards a target was comparable to solution-type probes, showing higher recognition efficiency than that in conventional methods.

Biomacromolecular nanostructures-based interfacial engineering: from precise assembly to precision biosensing

Biosensors are a type of important biodevice that integrate biological recognition elements, such as enzyme, antibody and DNA, and physical or chemical transducers, which have revolutionized clinical diagnosis especially under the context of point-of-care tests. Since the performance of a biosensor depends largely on the bio–solid interface, design and engineering of the interface play a pivotal role in developing quality biosensors. Along this line, a number of strategies have been developed to improve the homogeneity of the interface or the precision in regulating the interactions between biomolecules and the interface. Especially, intense efforts have been devoted to controlling the surface chemistry, orientation of immobilization, molecular conformation and packing density of surface-confined biomolecular probes (proteins and nucleic acids). By finely tuning these surface properties, through either gene manipulation or self-assembly, one may reduce the heterogeneity of self-assembled monolayers, increase the accessibility of target molecules and decrease the binding energy barrier to realize high sensitivity and specificity. In this review, we summarize recent progress in interfacial engineering of biosensors with particular focus on the use of protein and DNA nanostructures. These biomacromolecular nanostructures with atomistic precision lead to highly regulated interfacial assemblies at the nanoscale. We further describe the potential use of the high-performance biosensors for precision diagnostics.

Surface functional DNA density control by programmable molecular defects

Spatially programmable molecular-level defects via straightforward chemical lift-off manipulation leads to the direct regulation of complex surface DNA densities.

A highly sensitive gold nanoparticle-based electrochemical aptasensor for theophylline detection

Theophylline is a common bronchodilator for the treatment of diseases like asthma, bronchitis and emphysema. However, it should be strictly used and monitored due to its toxicity when the concentration is above certain levels. In this work, an electrochemical biosensor for theophylline detection is proposed by recognition of RNA aptamer and gold nanoparticle (AuNP)-based amplification technique. First, RNA aptamer is splitted into two single-stranded RNA probes. One is hybridized with DNA tetrahedron and the resulted nanostructure is then immobilized onto a gold electrode; the other is modified on the surface of AuNPs which is also labeled with methylene blue (MB) as electrochemical species. The recognition process between the two RNA probes and theophylline causes the localization of AuNPs and the enrichment of MB on the electrode interface. A significant electrochemical response is thus generated which is related to the concentration of initial theophylline. This proposed aptasensor shows excellent sensitivity and selectivity which could also be applied in quantitatively detection of theophylline in serums samples.

Recent advances in signal amplification strategy based on oligonucleotide and nanomaterials for microRNA detection-a review

MicroRNAs (MiRNAs) play multiple crucial regulating roles in cell which can regulate one third of protein-coding genes. MiRNAs participate in the developmental and physiological processes of human body, while their aberrant adjustment will be more likely to trigger diseases such as cancers, kidney disease, central nervous system diseases, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, viral infections and so on. What's worse, for the detection of miRNAs, their small size, high sequence similarity, low abundance and difficult extraction from cells impose great challenges in the analysis. Hence, it's necessary to fabricate accurate and sensitive biosensing platform for miRNAs detection. Up to now, researchers have developed many signal-amplification strategies for miRNAs detection, including hybridization chain reaction, nuclease amplification, rolling circle amplification, catalyzed hairpin assembly amplification and nanomaterials based amplification. These methods are typical, feasible and frequently used. In this review, we retrospect recent advances in signal amplification strategies for detecting miRNAs and point out the pros and cons of them. Furthermore, further prospects and promising developments of the signal-amplification strategies for detecting miRNAs are proposed.

Self-Assembled DNA Tetrahedral Scaffolds for the Construction of Electrochemiluminescence Biosensor with Programmable DNA Cyclic Amplification

A novel DNA tetrahedron-structured electrochemiluminescence (ECL) platform for bioanalysis with programmable DNA cyclic amplification was developed. In this work, glucose oxidase (GOD) was labeled to a DNA sequence (S) as functional conjugation (GOD-S), which could hybridize with other DNA sequences (L and P) to form GOD-S:L:P probe. In the presence of target DNA and a help DNA (A), the programmable DNA cyclic amplification was activated and released GOD-S via toehold-mediated strand displacement. Then, the obtained GOD-S was further immobilized on the DNA tetrahedral scaffolds with a pendant capture DNA and Ru(bpy)₃²⁺-conjugated silica nanoparticles (RuSi NPs) decorated on the electrode surface. Thus, the amount of GOD-S assembled on the electrode surface depended on the concentration of target DNA and GOD could catalyze glucose to generate H₂O₂ in situ. The ECL signal of Ru(bpy)₃²⁺-TPrA system was quenched by the presence of H₂O₂. By integrating the programmable DNA cyclic amplification and in situ generating H₂O₂ as Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ ECL quencher, a sensitive DNA tetrahedron-structured ECL sensing platform was proposed for DNA detection. Under optimized conditions, this biosensor showed a wide linear range from 100 aM to 10 pM with a detection limit of 40 aM, indicating a promising application in DNA analysis. Furthermore, by labeling GOD to different recognition elements, the proposed strategy could be used for the detection of various targets. Thus, this programmable cascade amplification strategy not only retains the high selectivity and good capturing efficiency of tetrahedral-decorated electrode surface but also provides potential applications in the construction of ECL biosensor.

A T–Hg2+–T metallo-base pair-mediated dual amplification fluorescent strategy for the selective and sensitive detection of Hg2+

Thematic illustration of the dual amplification fluorescent strategy based on target cycle and DNAzyme cycle for the selective and sensitive detection of Hg²⁺.

Modified electrodes used for electrochemical detection of metal ions in environmental analysis

Heavy metal pollution is one of the most serious environmental problems, and regulations are becoming stricter. Many efforts have been made to develop sensors for monitoring heavy metals in the environment. This review aims at presenting the different label-free strategies used to develop electrochemical sensors for the detection of heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, mercury, arsenic etc. The first part of this review will be dedicated to stripping voltammetry techniques, on unmodified electrodes (mercury, bismuth or noble metals in the bulk form), or electrodes modified at their surface by nanoparticles, nanostructures (CNT, graphene) or other innovative materials such as boron-doped diamond. The second part will be dedicated to chemically modified electrodes especially those with conducting polymers. The last part of this review will focus on bio-modified electrodes. Special attention will be paid to strategies using biomolecules (DNA, peptide or proteins), enzymes or whole cells.

An electrochemical sensing strategy based on a three dimensional ordered macroporous polyaniline–platinum platform and a mercury(ii) ion-mediated DNAzyme functionalized nanolabel

An Hg²⁺-switched DNA biosensor using a three dimensional ordered macroporous polyaniline–platinum platform and a G-rich sequence recognition probe was developed, with the detection limit of 8.7 × 10⁻¹⁴ M.

Functional DNA nanostructures for theranostic applications

There has been tremendous interest in constructing nanostructures by exploiting the unparalleled ability of DNA molecules in self-assembly. We have seen the appearance of many fantastic, "art-like" DNA nanostructures in one, two, or three dimensions during the last two decades. More recently, much attention has been directed to the use of these elegant nanoobjects for applications in a wide range of areas. Among them, diagnosis and therapy (i.e., theranostics) are of particular interest given the biological nature of DNA. One of the major barricades for the biosensor design lies in the restricted target accessibility at the solid-water interface. DNA nanotechnology provides a convenient approach to well control the biomolecule-confined surface to increase the ability of molecular recognition at the biosensing interface. For example, tetrahedral DNA nanostructures with thiol modifications can be self-assembled at the gold surface with high reproducibility. Since DNA tetrahedra are highly rigid and well-defined structures with atomic precision and versatile functionality, they provide scaffolds for anchoring of a variety of biomolecular probes (DNA, aptamers, peptides, and proteins) for biosensing. Significantly, this DNA nanostructure-based biosensing platform greatly increases target accessibility and improves the sensitivity for various types of molecular targets (DNA, RNA, proteins, and small molecules) by several orders of magnitude. In an alternative approach, DNA nanostructures provide a framework for the development of dynamic nanosensors that can function inside the cell. DNA tetrahedra are found to be facilely cell permeable and can sense and image specific molecules in cells. More importantly, these DNA nanostructures can be efficient drug delivery nanocarriers. Since they are DNA molecules by themselves, they have shown excellent cellular biocompatibility with minimal cytotoxicity. As an example, DNA tetrahedra tailored with CpG oligonucleotide drugs have shown greatly improved immunostimulatory effects that makes them a highly promising nanomedicine. By taking them together, we believe these functionalized DNA nanostructures can be a type of intelligent theranostic nanodevice for simultaneous sensing, diagnosis, and therapy inside the cell.

Graphene oxide modified light addressable potentiometric sensor and its application for ssDNA monitoring

A light addressable potentiometric sensor (LAPS) is a kind of silicon based semiconductor sensor, and surface modification is a fundamental problem for its application in biological fields. Graphene oxide (GO) based biochemically activated LAPS were proposed, called GO-LAPS. The GO-LAPS were applied to monitoring single strand DNA (ssDNA) probe immobilization and its hybridization with complementary ssDNA molecules of different chain lengths (30, 21 and 14 base pairs, respectively). It was discovered that the curves of LAPS' currents versus analyte concentrations for ssDNA probe binding and the target ssDNA hybridization were different. Explanations were proposed based on the semiconductor's surface-electric-field-effect and the electrical properties of ssDNA molecule. Moreover, comparisons between GO-LAPS and LAPS without GO modification were carried out. Enhanced response currents of GO-LAPS were reported experimentally and analyzed theoretically based on X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) of GO-LAPS. The limitation of target ssDNA monitoring was 1 pM to 10 nM, which suggested that this LAPS based platform could be developed as a sensitive means for short chain ssDNA detection.

Electrochemiluminescent biosensor of ATP using tetrahedron structured DNA and a functional oligonucleotide for Ru(phen)3(2+) intercalation and target identification

Restricted target accessibility and surface-induced perturbation of the aptamer structure are the main limitations in single-stranded DNA aptamer-based electrochemical sensors. Chemical labeling of the aptamer with a probe at the end of aptamer is inefficient and time-consuming. In this work, tetrahedron-structured DNA (ts-DNA) and a functionalized oligonucleotide (FO) were used to develop an electrochemiluminescence (ECL) aptasensor with adenosine triphosphate (ATP) as a model target. The ts-DNA was formed with three thiolated oligonucleotides and one oligonucleotide containing anti-ATP aptamer. The FO contained a complementary strand to the anti-ATP aptamer and an intermolecular duplex for Ru(phen)3(2+) intercalation. After the ts-DNA was immobilized on the electrode surface through gold-thiol interactions, hybridization between the anti-ATP aptamer and its complementary strand introduced the intercalated Ru(phen)3(2+) to the electrode. ECL emission from Ru(phen)3(2+) was observed with tripropylamine as a co-reactant. Once ATP reacted with its aptamer, the aptamer-complimentary strand duplex dissociated and the intermolecular duplex containing Ru(phen)3(2+) was released. The difference in emission before and after reaction with ATP was used to quantify ATP with a detection limit of 0.2nM. The ts-DNA increased the sensitivity compared to conventional methods, and the intercalation strategy avoided a complex chemical labeling procedure.

Electrochemiluminescent lead biosensor based on GR-5 lead-dependent DNAzyme for Ru(phen)3(2+) intercalation and lead recognition

An electrochemiluminescent (ECL) lead biosensor was developed based on GR-5 lead-dependent DNAzyme for lead recognition and intercalated ruthenium tris(1,10-phenanthroline) (Ru(phen)(3)(2+)) as the ECL probe. The thiol-modified substrate was first immobilized on the surface of the gold electrode via gold-sulfur self-assembly. Subsequently, the hybridization of DNAzyme and its substrate and the automatic intercalation of Ru(phen)(3)(2+) proceeded. Intercalated Ru(phen)(3)(2+) can transfer electrons through double-stranded DNA to the electrode and its electrochemiluminescence was excited with a potential step using tripropylamine as the coreactant. In the presence of lead, the substrate cleaves at the scissile ribo-adenine into two fragments. The dissociation of DNAzyme occurs, leading to the releasing of intercalated Ru(phen)(3)(2+) accompanied by a decrease in the intensity of electrochemiluminescence. A quantity of lead can be calculated from this decrease. The biosensor is highly sensitive and specific, along with an ultra-low limit of detection of 0.9 pM and a dynamic range from 2 to 1000 pM. It enables analysis of trace amounts of lead in serum samples. The combination of the intercalated-Ru(phen)(3)(2+) ECL probe and the cofactor-dependent DNAzyme may push the performance of cofactor-sensing tactics to the extreme.

DNA nanostructure-decorated surfaces for enhanced aptamer-target binding and electrochemical cocaine sensors

The sensitivity of aptamer-based electrochemical sensors is often limited by restricted target accessibility and surface-induced perturbation of the aptamer structure, which arise from imperfect packing of probes on the heterogeneous and locally crowded surface. In this study, we have developed an ultrasensitive and highly selective electrochemical aptamer-based cocaine sensor (EACS), based on a DNA nanotechnology-based sensing platform. We have found that the electrode surface decorated with an aptamer probe-pendant tetrahedral DNA nanostructure greatly facilitates cocaine-induced fusion of the split anticocaine aptamer. This novel design leads to a sensitive cocaine sensor with a remarkably low detection limit of 33 nM. It is also important that the tetrahedra-decorated surface is protein-resistant, which not only suits the enzyme-based signal amplification scheme employed in this work, but ensures high selectivity of this sensor when deployed in sera or other adulterated samples.