A homogeneous hybridization magnetic biosensor based on electric field assistance for ultrafast nucleic acid detection

Electrochemical biosensing is a sensitive strategy widely used in the field of nucleic acid detection. However, electrochemical biosensors generally involve time-consuming and labor-intensive probe immobilization processes. In this study, an electrochemical DNA biosensor based on homogeneous hybridization in solution was designed for nucleic acid detection without probe immobilization, which is different from most biosensors. The capture probe, detection probe, and target DNA were hybridized rapidly under an electric field to form a sandwich structure within 90 s, and the sandwich hybrid could be specifically coupled to streptavidin-modified magnetic beads within 5 min. Finally, the magnetic beads were enriched by using polypyrrole (PPy)/carbon nanotube (CNT)-modified magnetic electrodes and the signal was detected by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). The magnetic biosensor constructed in this study could detect targets over a good linear dynamic range spanning 100 pM to 100 nM in 400 s, while those involving conventional hybridization methods always take 2 h or more. Because of the specific binding of streptavidin and biotin, this strategy showed high specificity. Taken together, the homogenous hybridization magnetic biosensor constructed with electric field assistance presents a potential diagnostic method for rapid DNA detection and provides a new idea for rapid nucleic acid detection in clinical practice.

Automated summary

In this study, an electrochemical DNA biosensor based on homogeneous hybridization in solution was designed for nucleic acid detection without probe immobilization. The magnetic biosensor constructed in this study could detect targets over a good linear dynamic range spanning 100 pM to 100 nM in 400 s, while those involving conventional hybridization methods always take 2 h or more. This strategy showed high specificity due to the specific binding of streptavidin and biotin. The homogenous hybridization magnetic biosensor constructed with electric field assistance presents a potential diagnostic method for rapid DNA detection and provides a new idea for rapid nucleic acid detection in clinical practice.