Sequence-Independent DNA Adsorption on Few-Layered Oxygen-Functionalized Graphene Electrodes: An Electrochemical Study for Biosensing Application

Biosensors (Basel). 2021 Aug 14;11(8):273. doi: 10.3390/bios11080273.

Abstract

DNA is strongly adsorbed on oxidized graphene surfaces in the presence of divalent cations. Here, we studied the effect of DNA adsorption on electrochemical charge transfer at few-layered, oxygen-functionalized graphene (GOx) electrodes. DNA adsorption on the inkjet-printed GOx electrodes caused amplified current response from ferro/ferricyanide redox probe at concentration range 1 aM-10 nM in differential pulse voltammetry. We studied a number of variables that may affect the current response of the interface: sequence type, conformation, concentration, length, and ionic strength. Later, we showed a proof-of-concept DNA biosensing application, which is free from chemical immobilization of the probe and sensitive at attomolar concentration regime. We propose that GOx electrodes promise a low-cost solution to fabricate a highly sensitive platform for label-free and chemisorption-free DNA biosensing.

Keywords: DNA biosensors; electrochemical biosensors; graphene electrodes; inkjet-printing; label-free; trinucleotide repeats.

MeSH terms

  • Adsorption
  • Biosensing Techniques*
  • DNA
  • Electrochemical Techniques
  • Electrodes
  • Graphite*
  • Oxygen

Substances

  • Graphite
  • DNA
  • Oxygen