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Ultra-sensitive electrochemical DNA biosensor based on signal amplification using gold nanoparticles modified with molybdenum disulfide, graphene and horseradish peroxidase

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Abstract

We have developed an ultra-sensitive electrochemical DNA biosensor by assembling probe ssDNA on a glassy carbon electrode modified with a composite made from molybdenum disulfide, graphene, chitosan and gold nanoparticles. A thiol-tagged DNA strand coupled to horseradish peroxidase conjugated to AuNP served as a tracer. The nanocomposite on the surface acts as relatively good electrical conductor for accelerating the electron transfer, while the enzyme tagged gold nanoparticles provide signal amplification. Hybridization with the target DNA was studied by measuring the electrochemical signal response of horseradish peroxidase using differential pulse voltammetry. The calibration plot is linear in the 5.0 × 10−14 and 5.0 × 10−9 M concentration range, and the limit of detection is 2.2 × 10−15 M. The biosensor displays high selectivity and can differentiate between single-base mismatched and three-base mismatched sequences of DNA. The approach is deemed to provide a sensitive and reliable tool for highly specific detection of DNA.

We have developed an ultra-sensitive electrochemical DNA biosensor by assembling probe (ssDNA) on a glassy carbon electrode modified with a composite made from molybdenum disulfide, graphene, chitosan and gold nanoparticles. The nanocomposite on the surface acts as relatively good electrical conductor for accelerating the electron transfer, while the enzyme tagged gold nanoparticles provide signal amplification. The biosensor displays high selectivity and can differentiate between single-base mismatched and three-base mismatched sequences of DNA

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by Program for Science & Technology Innovation Talents in Universities of Henan Province (HASTIT), China (Grant No. 2011HASTIT017), Innovation Scientists and Technicians Troop Construction Projects of Zhengzhou City, China (Grant No. 131PLJRC652), and Plan for Scientific Innovation Talent of Henan University of Technology, China (Grant No. 2012CXRC09).

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  1. School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou, 450001, People’s Republic of China

    Xiaoyu Cao

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Correspondence to Xiaoyu Cao.

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Cao, X. Ultra-sensitive electrochemical DNA biosensor based on signal amplification using gold nanoparticles modified with molybdenum disulfide, graphene and horseradish peroxidase. Microchim Acta 181, 1133–1141 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-014-1301-y

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