New materials for electrochemical sensing V:: Nanoparticles for DNA labeling

We present recent trends and challenges in the use of nanoparticles as DNA labels in electrochemical detection systems. We discuss nanoparticle synthesis procedures and methods for attaching biological molecules that enable their application in genosensors. We also discuss typical electrochemical procedures based on gold nanoparticles and quantum dots (QDs), along with QD carriers, such as carbon nanotube or polystyrene beads. High sensitivity and selectivity, simultaneous detection of various DNA sequences, and cost-efficient detection are advantages that seem to come using these novel labels in DNA electrochemical detection schemes. (c) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.