Aptamer-DNA concatamer-quantum dots based electrochemical biosensing strategy for green and ultrasensitive detection of tumor cells via mercury-free anodic stripping voltammetry

A electrochemical biosensing strategy was developed for green and ultrasensitive detection of tumor cells by combining aptamer-DNA concatamer-CdTe quantum dots (QDs) signal amplification probe with mercury-free anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV). First, aptamer-DNA concatamer-CdTe QDs probes were designed by DNA hybridization and covalent assembling, which contained specific recognition of aptamer and signal amplification incorporating the DNA concatamer with QDs. Meanwhile, the capture electrode, glassy carbon electrode (GCE)/Graphene oxide (GO)/Polyaniline (PANI) / Glutaraldehyde (GA) / concanavalin A (Con A) was fabricated by a layer-by-layer assembling technique. K562 cells, as model cancer cells were detected to demonstrate the feasibility of this sensing strategy. Then, novel composite, graphene (GR)- Poly diallyldimethylammonium chloride (PDDA)L-Cysteine (L- Cys), was explored in ASV which replaced mercury electrodes using for determination of tumor cells. The proposed electrochemical biosensor showed high sensitivity with the detection limit of 60 cells mL(-1). More importantly, this novel design of signal amplification probes and the exploration of new composites in mercury-free ASV analysis would provide a promising method for ultrasensitive biosensor preparation and green electrochemical detection of tumor cells.