Ferrocene-functionalized cationic polythiophene for the label-free electrochemical detection of DNA

Specific, sensitive detection of unlabeled target DNA at room temperature is reported. A new, water-soluble, ferrocene-functionalized, cationic polythiophene is synthesized. This conducting polymer, used together with gold-bound peptide nucleic acid (PNA) probes, makes, by a simple electrostatic method, DNA detection possible (see Figure).