Voltammetric determination of gamma radiation-induced DNA damage

Homopolydeoxyribonucleotides, poly[dGuo], poly[dAdo], poly[dThd], and poly[dCyd], and calf thymus single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) and double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) aqueous solutions previously exposed to gamma radiation doses between 2 and 35 Gy, were studied by differential pulse voltammetry using a glassy carbon electrode. The interpretation of the voltammetric data was also supported by the electrophoretic migration profile obtained for the same ssDNA and dsDNA gamma-irradiated samples by nondenaturing agarose gel electrophoresis. The generation of 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine, 2,8-dihydroxyadenine, 5-formyluracil, base-free sites, and single- and double-stranded breaks in the gamma-irradiated DNA samples was detected voltammetrically, with the amount depending on the irradiation time. It was found that the current peaks obtained for 8-oxoguanine increase linearly with the radiation dose applied to the nucleic acid sample, and values between 8 and 446 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine (8-oxoGua) per 10(6) guanines per Gy were obtained according to the nucleic acid sample. The results showed that voltammetry can be used for monitoring and simultaneously characterizing different kinds of DNA damage caused by gamma radiation exposure.     

Label-free electrochemical detection of short sequences related to the hepatitis B virus using 4,4'-diaminoazobenzene based on multiwalled carbon nanotube-modified GCE

A novel label-free electrochemical DNA biosensor based on 4,4'-diaminoazobenzene (4,4'-DAAB) and multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWNT)-modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) for short DNA sequences related to the hepatitis B virus (HBV) hybridization detection was presented. Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) was used to investigate hybridization event. The decrease in the peak current of 4,4'-DAAB was observed on hybridization of probe with the target. This electrochemical approach was sequence specific as indicated by the control experiments, in which no peak current change was observed when a noncomplementary DNA sequence was used. Numerous factors affecting the target hybridization were optimized to maximize the sensitivity. Under optimal conditions, this sensor showed a good calibration range between 7.94 x 10(-8) M and 1.58 x 10(-6) M, with HBV DNA sequence detection limit of 1.1 x 10(-8) M.     

Quantitative DNA hybridization in solution using magnetic/luminescent core-shell nanoparticles

Nanoscale magnetic/luminescent core-shell particles were used for DNA quantification in a hybridization-in-solution approach. We demonstrated a rapid, simple, and non-polymerase chain reaction-based DNA hybridization-in-solution assay for quantifying bacteria capable of biodegrading methyl tertiary-butyl ether. Fe3O4/Eu:Gd2O3 core-shell nanoparticles synthesized by spray pyrolysis were biofunctionalized with NeutrAvidin. Following immobilization of a biotinylated probe DNA on the particles' surfaces via passive adsorption, target DNA labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate was hybridized with probe DNA. The hybridized DNA complex was separated from solution with a magnet, while nonhybridized DNA remained in solution. The normalized fluorescence (fluorescein isothiocyanate/nanoparticles) measured with a spectrofluorometer indicated a linear quantification (R(2)=0.98) of the target bacterial 16 S rDNA. The rate of hybridization increased concurrently with the target DNA concentration. In addition, this approach differentiated between the signal outputs from perfectly complementary target and two-base mismatched target DNA in a range of concentrations, showing the specificity of the assay and the possibility for environmental applications.     

Introduction of hematoxylin as an electroactive label for DNA biosensors and its employment in detection of target DNA sequence and single-base mismatch in human papilloma virus corresponding to oligonucleotide

For the detection of DNA hybridization, a new electrochemical biosensor was developed on the basis of the interaction of hematoxylin with 20-mer deoxyoligonucleotides (from human papilloma virus, HPV). The study was performed based on the interaction of hematoxylin with an alkanethiol DNA probe self-assembled gold electrode (ss-DNA/AuE) and its hybridization form (ds-DNA/AuE). The optimum conditions were found for the immobilization of HPV probe on the gold electrode (AuE) surface and its hybridization with the target DNA. Electrochemical detection of the self-assembled DNA and the hybridization process were performed by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) over the potential range where the accumulated hematoxylin at the modified electrode was electroactive. Observing a remarkable difference between the voltammetric signals of the hematoxylin obtained from different hybridization samples (non-complementary, mismatch and complementary DNAs), we confirmed the potential of the developed biosensor in detecting and discriminating the target complementary DNA from non-complementary and mismatch oligonucleotides. Under optimum conditions, the electrochemical signal had a linear relationship with the concentration of the target DNA ranging from 12.5 nM to 350.0 nM, and the detection limit was 3.8 nM.     

Hairpin DNA probe based electrochemical biosensor using methylene blue as hybridization indicator

In this paper, a label-free, rapid and simple method was proposed to study the hybridization specificity of hairpin DNA probe using methylene blue (MB) as a hybridization indicator. Thiolated hairpin DNA probe was immobilized on the gold electrode by self-assembly. The voltammetric signals of MB were investigated at these modified electrodes by means of cyclic voltammetry (CV) detection. Single-base mutation oligonucleotide and random oligonucleotide can be easily discriminated from complementary target DNA. The effect of mismatch position in target DNA was investigated. Experimental results showed that mutation in the center of target DNA had greatest effect on the hybridization with hairpin DNA probe. The relationship between electrochemical responses and DNA target concentration was also studied. The reduction current of MB intercalation decreased with increasing the concentration of target DNA. Taken together, these experiments demonstrate that the hybridization indicator MB provides great promise for rapid and specific measurement of target DNA.     

Electrochemical measurement of DNA hybridization using nanosilver as label and horseradish peroxidase as enhancer

A simple and sensitive electrochemical DNA biosensor based on in situ DNA amplification with nanosilver as label and horseradish peroxide (HRP) as enhancer has been designed. The thiolated oligomer single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) was initially directly immobilized on a gold electrode, and quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) gave the specific amount of ssDNA adsorption of 6.3 ± 0.1 ng/cm². With a competitive format, hybridization reaction was carried out via immersing the DNA biosensor into a stirred hybridization solution containing different concentrations of the complementary ssDNA and constant concentration of nanosilver-labeled ssDNA, and then further binding with HRP. The adsorbed HRP amount on the probe surface decreased with the increment of the target ssDNA in the sample. The hybridization events were monitored by using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) with the adsorbed HRP toward the reduction of H₂O₂. The reduction current from the enzyme-generated product was related to the number of target ssDNA molecules in the sample. A detection of 15 pmol/L for target ssDNA was obtained with the electrochemical DNA biosensor. Additionally, the developed approach can effectively discriminate complementary from non-complementary DNA sequence, suggesting that the similar enzyme-labeled DNA assay method hold great promises for sensitive electrochemical biosensor applications.     

Detection of protein-DNA interaction with a DNA probe: distinction between single-strand and double-strand DNA-protein interaction

A simple, direct method for the detection of DNA-protein interaction was developed with electrochemical methods. Single-stranded DNA (ss-DNA) probes were prepared through the chemical bonding of an oligonucleotide to a polymer film bearing carboxylic acid groups, and double-stranded DNA (ds-DNA) probes were prepared through hybridization of the complementary sequence DNA on the ss-DNA probe. Impedance spectroscopy and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) distinguished the interaction between the DNA probes with mouse Purbeta (mPurbeta), an ss-DNA binding protein, and with Escherichia coli MutH, a ds-DNA binding protein. Impedance spectra obtained before and after the interaction of DNA probes with these proteins clearly showed the sequence-specific ss-DNA preference of mPurbeta and the sequence-specific ds-DNA preference of MutH. The concentration dependence of proteins on the response of the DNA probes was also investigated, and the detection limits of MutH and mPurbeta were 25 and 3 microg/ml, respectively. To confirm the impedance results, the variation of the current oxidation peak of adenine of the DNA probe was monitored with DPV. The formation constants of the complexes formed between the probe DNA and the proteins were estimated based on the DPV results.     

Time-resolved detection probe for homogeneous nucleic acid analyses in one-step format

We report here an extension of homogeneous assays based on fluorescence intensity and lifetime measuring on DNA hybridization. A novel decay probe that allows simple one-step nucleic acid detection with subnanomolar sensitivity, and is suitable for closed-tube applications, is introduced. The decay probe uses fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between a europium chelate donor and an organic fluorophore acceptor. The substantial change in the acceptor emission decay time on hybridization with the target sequence allows the direct separation of the hybridized and unhybridized probe populations in a time-resolved measurement. No additional sample manipulation or self-hybridization of the probes is required. The wavelength and decay time of a decay probe can be adjusted according to the selection of probe length and acceptor fluorophore, thereby making the probes applicable to multiplexed assays. Here we demonstrate the decay probe principle and decay probe-based, one-step, dual DNA assay using celiac disease-related target oligonucleotides (single-nucleotide polymorphisms [SNPs]) as model analytes. Decay probes showed specific response for their complementary DNA target and allowed good signal deconvolution based on simultaneous optical and temporal filtering. This technique potentially could be used to further increase the number of simultaneously detected DNA targets in a simple one-step homogeneous assay.     

Sensitive immobilization-free electrochemical DNA sensor based on isothermal circular strand displacement polymerization reaction

A highly sensitive electrochemical DNA sensor that requires no probe immobilization has been developed based on a target recycling mechanism utilizing a DNA polymerase with a strand displacement activity. The electrochemical detection is realized by taking advantage of the difference in diffusivity between a free ferrocene-labeled peptide nucleic acid (Fc-PNA) and a Fc-PNA hybridized with a complementary DNA, while the DNA polymerase-assisted target recycling leads to signal generation and amplification. The hybridization of the target DNA opens up a stem-loop template DNA with the Fc-PNA hybridized to its extruded 5' end and allows a DNA primer to anneal and be extended by the DNA polymerase, which results in sequential displacement of the target DNA and the Fc-PNA from the template DNA. The displaced target DNA will hybridize with another template DNA, triggering another round of primer extension and strand displacement. The released Fc-PNA, due to its neutral backbone, has much higher diffusivity towards a negatively charged electrode, compared to that when it is hybridized with a negatively charged DNA. Therefore, a significantly enhanced signal of Fc can be observed. The outstanding sensitivity and simplicity make this approach a promising candidate for next-generation electrochemical DNA sensing technologies.     

Electrochemical DNA biosensor for bovine papillomavirus detection using polymeric film on screen-printed electrode

A new electrochemical DNA biosensor for bovine papillomavirus (BPV) detection that was based on screen-printed electrodes was comprehensively studied by electrochemical methods of cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). A BPV probe was immobilised on a working electrode (gold) modified with a polymeric film of poly-L-lysine (PLL) and chitosan. The experimental design was carried out to evaluate the influence of polymers, probe concentration (BPV probe) and immobilisation time on the electrochemical reduction of methylene blue (MB). The polymer poly-L-lysine (PLL), a probe concentration of 1μM and an immobilisation time of 60min showed the best result for the BPV probe immobilisation. With the hybridisation of a complementary target sequence (BPV target), the electrochemical signal decreased compared to a BPV probe immobilised on the modified PLL-gold electrode. Viral DNA that was extracted from cattle with papillomatosis also showed a decrease in the MB electrochemical reduction, which suggested that the decreased electrochemical signal corresponded to a bovine papillomavirus infection. The hybridisation specificity experiments further indicated that the biosensor could discriminate the complementary sequence from the non-complementary sequence. Thus, the results showed that the development of analytical devices, such as a biosensor, could assist in the rapid and efficient detection of bovine papillomavirus DNA and help in the prevention and treatment of papillomatosis in cattle.     

Electrochemical DNA biosensor based on silver nanoparticles/poly(3-(3-pyridyl) acrylic acid)/carbon nanotubes modified electrode

In this work, we present an electrochemical DNA sensor based on silver nanoparticles/poly(trans-3-(3-pyridyl) acrylic acid) (PPAA)/multiwalled carbon nanotubes with carboxyl groups (MWCNTs-COOH) modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The polymer film was electropolymerized onto MWCNTs-COOH modified electrode by cyclic voltammetry (CV), and then silver nanoparticles were electrodeposited on the surface of PPAA/MWCNTs-COOH composite film. Thiol group end single-stranded DNA (HS-ssDNA) probe was easily covalently linked onto the surface of silver nanoparticles through a 5′ thiol linker. The DNA hybridization events were monitored based on the signal of the intercalated adriamycin by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). Based on the response of adriamycin, only the complementary oligonucleotides gave an obvious current signal compared with the three-base mismatched and noncomplementary oligonucleotides. Under the optimal conditions, the increase of reduction peak current of adriamycin was linear with the logarithm of the concentration of the complementary oligonucleotides from 9.0 × 10⁻¹² to 9.0 × 10⁻⁹ M with a detection limit of 3.2 × 10⁻¹² M. In addition, this DNA sensor exhibited an excellent reproducibility and stability during DNA hybridization assay.     

An ultrasensitive supersandwich electrochemical DNA biosensor based on gold nanoparticles decorated reduced graphene oxide

In this article, a supersandwich-type electrochemical biosensor for sequence-specific DNA detection is described. In design, single-strand DNA labeled with methylene blue (MB) was used as signal probe, and auxiliary probe was designed to hybridize with two different regions of signal probe. The biosensor construction contained three steps: (i) capture DNA labeled with thiol was immobilized on the surface of gold nanoparticles decorated reduced graphene oxide (Au NPs/rGO); (ii) the sandwich structure formation contained “capture–target–signal probe”; and (iii) auxiliary probe was introduced to produce long concatamers containing signal molecule MB. Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) was used to monitor the DNA hybridization event using peak current changes of MB in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) containing 1.0 M NaClO₄. Under optimal conditions, the peak currents of MB were linear with the logarithm of the concentration of target DNA in the range of 0.1 μM to 0.1 fM with a detection limit of 35 aM (signal/noise = 3). In addition, this biosensor exhibited good selectivity even for single-base mismatched target DNA detection.     

A nucleic acid biosensor for the detection of a short sequence related to the hepatitis B virus using bis(benzimidazole)cadmium(II) dinitrate as an electrochemical indicator

A novel hybridization indicator, bis(benzimidazole)cadmium(II) dinitrate (Cd(bzim)(2)(NO(3))(2)), was utilized to develop an electrochemical DNA biosensor for the detection of a short DNA sequence related to the hepatitis B virus (HBV). The sensor relies on the immobilization and hybridization of the 21-mer single-stranded oligonucleotide from the HBV long repeat at the glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The hybridization between the probe and its complementary sequence as the target was studied by enhancement of the peak of the Cd(bzim)(2)(2+) indicator using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). Numerous factors affecting the probe immobilization, target hybridization, and indicator binding reactions were optimized to maximize the sensitivity and speed of the assay time. With this approach, a sequence of the HBV could be quantified over the range from 1.49x10(-7)M to 1.06x10(-6)M, with a linear correlation of r=0.9973 and a detection limit of 8.4x10(-8)M. The Cd(bzim)(2)(2+) signal observed from the probe sequence before and after hybridization with a four-base mismatch containing sequence was lower than that observed after hybridization with a complementary sequence, showing good selectivity. These results demonstrate that the Cd(bzim)(2)(2+) indicator provides great promise for the rapid and specific measurement of the target DNA.     

Detection of protein–DNA interaction with a DNA probe: distinction between single-strand and double-strand DNA–protein interaction

A simple, direct method for the detection of DNA–protein interaction was developed with electrochemical methods. Single-stranded DNA (ss-DNA) probes were prepared through the chemical bonding of an oligonucleotide to a polymer film bearing carboxylic acid groups, and double-stranded DNA (ds-DNA) probes were prepared through hybridization of the complementary sequence DNA on the ss-DNA probe. Impedance spectroscopy and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) distinguished the interaction between the DNA probes with mouse Purβ (mPurβ), an ss-DNA binding protein, and with Escherichia coli MutH, a ds-DNA binding protein. Impedance spectra obtained before and after the interaction of DNA probes with these proteins clearly showed the sequence-specific ss-DNA preference of mPurβ and the sequence-specific ds-DNA preference of MutH. The concentration dependence of proteins on the response of the DNA probes was also investigated, and the detection limits of MutH and mPurβ were 25 and 3 μg/ml, respectively. To confirm the impedance results, the variation of the current oxidation peak of adenine of the DNA probe was monitored with DPV. The formation constants of the complexes formed between the probe DNA and the proteins were estimated based on the DPV results.     

Hybridization signal enhancement via long-stranded probe for detection of DNA using aquadichloro (benzimidazole)-copper(II) as hybridization indicator

A simple and sensitive method for electrochemical detection of DNA was designed. This DNA sensor was based on a "sandwich" detection strategy, which involved a long capture probe DNA immobilized on glassy carbon electrodes that flanked both the reference DNA and target DNA. Electrochemical signals were measured by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) using aquadichloro(benzimidazole)-copper(II), Cu(bzim)(H(2)O)Cl(2), as an electroactive indicator. An improving amount of Cu(bzim)(H(2)O)Cl(2) was interacted with the hybrid DNA via the incorporation of a long-probe DNA and a reference DNA in this sensor. As a result of this effect, this sensor design significantly enhanced the sensitivity. With 48-mer probe DNA and 27-mer reference DNA, the proposed method could be used for detection of 21-mer ssDNA ranging from 1.32 x 10(-7) to 2.52 x 10(-6) M with a detection limit of 2.94 x 10(-8) M. Electrochemical DNA biosensors were also developed using the same long-probe sequence as the target sequence with the novel hybridization indicator, Cu(bzim) (H(2)O)Cl(2). The detection limits for the complementary 21-mer target and 27-mer target were 9.52 x 10(-8) M and 5.81 x 10(-8) M, respectively. The results showed that the sensor with long-probe DNA and reference DNA is far more sensitive than that with nonswitch assay.     

Electrochemical DNA biosensor for detecting cancer biomarker related to glutathione S-transferase P1 (GSTP1) hypermethylation in real samples

An electrochemical genosensor for the detection of hypermethylation of the glutathione S-transferase P1 (GSTP1) gene, a specific marker of prostate cancer, was reported. This new sensor was used in combination with a single-use carbon graphite working electrode and differential pulse voltammetry, with the results of sample analysis based on the guanine oxidation signals obtained at +1.0 V before and after hybridization between probe and synthetic target or denatured PCR samples. The detected DNA hybridization was also characterized by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy with potassium ferri/ferrocyanide as a redox probe. The protocol consisted of 2 different modes: (i) capture probes selective for methylation-specific and unmethylated GSTP1 sequences were immobilized onto the sensor directly, and hybridization was formed on the electrode surface; (ii) probe/target or probe/noncomplementary target couples were mixed in solution phase, and the transducer was modified through simple adsorption. The limit of detection (S/N=3) was calculated as 2.92 pmol of target sequence in a 100-μl reaction volume. The optimum analytical detection parameters for the biosensor, as well as its future prospects, were also presented.     

Strand-specific fluorescence in situ hybridization: the CO-FISH family

The ability to prepare single-stranded chromosomal target DNA allows innovative uses of FISH technology for studies of chromosome organization. Standard FISH methodologies require functionally single-stranded DNAs in order to facilitate hybridization between the probe and the complementary chromosomal target sequence. This usually involves denaturation of double-stranded probes to induce temporary separation of the DNA strands. Strand-specific FISH (CO-FISH; Chromosome Orientation-FISH) involves selective removal of newly replicated strands from DNA of metaphase chromosomes which results in single-stranded target DNA. When single-stranded probes are then hybridized to such targets, the resulting strand-specific hybridization is capable of revealing a level of information previously unattainable at the cytogenetic level. Mammalian telomeric DNA consists of tandem repeats of the (TTAGGG) sequence, oriented 5'-->3' towards the termini of all vertebrate chromosomes. Based on this conserved structural organization, CO-FISH with a telomere probe reveals the absolute 5'-->3' orientation of DNA sequences with respect to the pter-->qter direction of chromosomes. Development and various applications of CO-FISH will be discussed: detection of cryptic inversions, discrimination between telomeres produced by leading- versus lagging-strand synthesis, and replication timing of mammalian telomeres.     

Conjugation polymer nanobelts: a novel fluorescent sensing platform for nucleic acid detection

In this article, we report on the facile and rapid synthesis of conjugation polymer poly(p-phenylenediamine) nanobelts (PNs) via room temperature chemical oxidation polymerization of p-phenylenediamine monomers by ammonium persulfate in aqueous medium. We further demonstrate the proof-of-concept that PNs can be used as an effective fluorescent sensing platform for nucleic acid detection for the first time. The general concept used in this approach lies in the facts that the adsorption of the fluorescently labeled single-stranded DNA probe by PN leads to substantial fluorescence quenching, followed by specific hybridization with the complementary region of the target DNA sequence. This results in desorption of the hybridized complex from PN surface and subsequent recovery of fluorescence. We also show that the sensing platform described herein can be used for multiplexing detection of nucleic acid sequences.     

High-sensitive electrochemical detection of point mutation based on polymerization-induced enzymatic amplification

Here a highly sensitive electrochemical method is described for the detection of point mutation in DNA. Polymerization extension reaction is applied to specifically initiate enzymatic electrochemical amplification to improve the sensitivity and enhance the performance of point mutation detection. In this work, 5'-thiolated DNA probe sequences complementary to the wild target DNA are assembled on the gold electrode. In the presence of wild target DNA, the probe is extended by DNA polymerase over the free segment of target as the template. After washing with NaOH solution, the target DNA is removed while the elongated probe sequence remains on the sensing surface. Via hybridizing to the designed biotin-labeled detection probe, the extended sequence is capable of capturing detection probe. After introducing streptavidin-conjugated alkaline phosphatase (SA-ALP), the specific binding between streptavidin and biotin mediates a catalytic reaction of ascorbic acid 2-phosphate (AA-P) substrate to produce a reducing agent ascorbic acid (AA). Then the silver ions in solution are reduced by AA, leading to the deposition of silver metal onto the electrode surface. The amount of deposited silver which is determined by the amount of wild target can be quantified by the linear sweep voltammetry (LSV). The present approach proved to be capable of detecting the wild target DNA down to a detection limit of 1.0×10(-14) M in a wide target concentration range and identifying -28 site (A to G) of the β-thalassemia gene, demonstrating that this scheme offers a highly sensitive and specific approach for point mutation detection.