Tetrahedral DNA Nanostructure with Multiple Target-Recognition Domains for Ultrasensitive Electrochemical Detection of Mucin 1

Anal Chem. 2022 May 10;94(18):6860-6865. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.2c00864. Epub 2022 Apr 27.

Abstract

In this work, a tetrahedral DNA nanostructure (TDN) designed with multiple biomolecular recognition domains (m-TDN) was assembled to construct an ultrasensitive electrochemical biosensor for the quantitative detection of tumor-associated mucin 1 (MUC-1) protein. This new nanostructure not only effectively increased the capture efficiency of target proteins compared to the traditional TDN with a single recognition domain but also enhanced the sensitivity of the constructed electrochemical biosensors. Once the target MUC-1 was captured by the protein aptamers, the ferrocene-marked DNA strands as electrochemical signal probes at the vertices of m-TDN would be released away from the electrode surface, causing significant reduction of the electrochemical signal, thereby enhancing significantly the detection sensitivity. As a result, this well-designed biosensor achieved ultrasensitive detection of the biomolecule at a linear range from 1 fg mL-1 to 1 ng mL-1, with the limit of detection down to 0.31 fg mL-1. This strategy provides a new approach to enhance the detection sensitivity for the diagnosis of diseases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biosensing Techniques*
  • DNA / chemistry
  • Electrochemical Techniques
  • Limit of Detection
  • Mucin-1
  • Nanostructures* / chemistry

Substances

  • Mucin-1
  • DNA