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A photoelectrochemical biosensor for determination of DNA based on flower rod-like zinc oxide heterostructures

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Abstract

The work describes a photoelectrochemical (PEC) biosensor for the detection of DNA. It employs oriented hierarchical ZnO flower-rod architectures (ZnO FRs) and DNA dendrimers. ZnO FRs act as photoactive material that yields a photocurrent of up to 23 μA. The photogenerated electron transfer is inhibited once the probe DNA and the target DNA oligonucleotides hybridize, and this results in a reduced photocurrent. The use of DNA dendrimers with scores of DNA branches further amplifies the signal of the PEC biosensor. The PEC sensor displays a response that is linear in the DNA concentration range from 10 fM to 0.1 μM with a detection limit of 3.7 fM (at S/N = 3). The sensor was applied to the determination of DNA in human serum samples and was found to work with acceptable accuracy. Due to the use of ZnO FRs and DNA dendrimers, the assay is highly sensitive, rapid, and repeatability.

Schematic of an innovative photoelectrochemical (PEC) biosensors based on oriented ZnO flower-rod architectures (ZnO FRs) for DNA detection. Dendrimers were employed for signal amplification to give a low detection limit of 3.7 fM.

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Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support from National Natural Science Foundation of China (51602053 and 21375017), Fujian Natural Science Foundation (2015 J05020), Natural Science Foundation for Distinguished Young Scholars of Fujian Province (2013 J06003), Program for New Century Excellent Talents of Colleges and Universities in Fujian Province (JA13130, JA13088), Youth Scientific Research Program of Fujian Provincial Health and Family Planning Commission (2014-1-39), Nursery Scientific Research Foundation of Fujian Medical University (2014MP008) and Professor Foundation of Fujian Medical University (JS14009).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350122, People’s Republic of China

    Zhizhong Han, Min Luo, Li Chen, Jinghua Chen & Chunyan Li

  2. College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350116, People’s Republic of China

    Haibo Pan

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  1. Zhizhong Han
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Correspondence to Zhizhong Han or Chunyan Li.

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Han, Z., Luo, M., Chen, L. et al. A photoelectrochemical biosensor for determination of DNA based on flower rod-like zinc oxide heterostructures. Microchim Acta 184, 2541–2549 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-017-2257-5

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