A Feasibility Study of a Capacitive Biosensor for Direct Detection of DNA Hybridization

Abstract

This preliminary study was performed to prove the feasibility of a direct capacitive DNA biosensor for detection of nucleic acids. Two different methods for immobilization of the oligonucleotide probes were used. The first type of sensor was composed of a gold rod with a self-assembled monolayer of a 26-base long oligonucleotide probe, modified with an SH-group at the 5 0 -end. Coverage studies showed that only around 20% of the surface was covered, probably due to the bulky nature of the probes. Hybridization studies performed in a flowthrough cell showed selectivity towards a DNA sample containing single stranded fragments of cytomegalo virus (CMV) possessing a complementary sequence. As few as 25 molecules could be detected at sample concentrations of 0.2 attomolar with an injection volume of 250mL. Controls with fragments of double-stranded CMV and single-stranded hepatitis B virus and tyrosinase mRNA gave all lower responses. The other type of sensor was modified by covalent immobilization of a phosphorylated 8-base long oligonucleotide probe to a self-assembled monolayer of cysteamine. This biosensor also showed selectivity against single stranded fragments of CMV and also in this case as few as 25 molecules could be detected.