PAMAM dendrimers-based DNA biosensors for electrochemical detection of DNA hybridization

Gold electrodes were modified with submonolayers of mercaptoacetic acid (RSH) and further reacted with poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimers (generation 4.0) to obtain thin films, on which DNA probe was later immobilized to afford a stable recognition layers. The characterization of the PAMAM/RSH-modified electrode was investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance measurement. Differential pulse voltammogram (DPV) measurement was used to monitor DNA hybridization with daunomycin (DNR) as indicator. Experiments carried out with these novel materials not only showed an improved DNA attachment quantity on the dendrimers-modified electrodes compared to DNA sensors with oligonucleotides directly immobilized on Au electrodes, but also exhibited a high selectivity, sensitivity and stability for the measurement of DNA hybridization.