Coenzyme-catalyzed electroinitiated reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer polymerization for ultrasensitive electrochemical DNA detection

Ultrasensitive detection of biomarkers at an early stage is generally limited by external influence factors such as high reaction temperature, complex operations, and sophisticated instruments. Here, we circumvent these problems by using nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) to control electroinitiated reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (electro-RAFT) polymerization for biosensing that enables the detection of a few molecules of target DNA. In this coenzyme-catalyzed electro-RAFT polymerization, numerous ferrocenylmethyl methacrylate (FCMMA) as monomer with electrochemistry signal were linked to the biomarker on Au electrode. Afterwards, a strong oxidation peak appears at the potential of about 0.3 V that represents a typical oxidation potential of FCMMA. The sensitivity of this methodology was presented by detecting DNA from 10-1 to 104 fM concentration and detection limit (LOD) being down to 4.39 aM in 10 mu L samples. This is lower by factors than detection limits of most other ultra-sensitive electrochemical DNA assays.

Automated summary

The ultrasensitive detection of biomarkers is achieved by using NAD+ to control electro-RAFT polymerization, enabling the detection of a few molecules of target DNA. The methodology shows high sensitivity with detection limit down to 4.39 aM.