Efficient DNA walker guided by ordered cruciform-shaped DNA track for ultrasensitive and rapid electrochemical detection of lead ion

Anal Chim Acta. 2024 May 8;1302:342492. doi: 10.1016/j.aca.2024.342492. Epub 2024 Mar 16.ABSTRACTThe rational design of DNA tracks is an effective pathway to guide the autonomous movement and high-efficiency recognition in DNA walkers, showing outstanding advantages for the cascade signal amplification of electrochemical biosensors. However, the uncontrolled distance between two adjacent tracks on the electrode could increase the risk of derailment and interruption of the reaction. Hence, a novel four-way balanced cruciform-shaped DNA track (C-DNT) was designed as a structured pathway to improve the effectiveness and stability of the reaction in DNA walkers. In this work, two kinds of cruciform-shaped DNA were interconnected as a robust structure that could avoid the invalid movement of the designed DNA walker on the electrode. When hairpin H2 was introduced onto the electrode, the strand displacement reaction (SDR) effectively triggered movements of the DNA walker along the cruciform-shaped track while leaving ferrocene (Fc) on the electrode, leading to a significant enhancement of the electrochemical signal. This design enabled the walker to move in an excellent organized and controllable manner, thus enhancing the reaction speed and walking efficiency. Compared to other walkers moving on random tracks, the reaction time of the C-DNT-based DNA walker could be reduced to 20 min. Lead ion (Pb2+) was used as a model target to evaluate the analytical performance of this biosens...

Source: Analytica Chimica Acta - April 5, 2024 Category: Chemistry Authors: Nuanfei Zhu Kaixuan Wang Dinghui Xiong Jiaxuan Xiao Yibin Deng Zhugen Yang Zhen Zhang Source Type: research