A robust bioplatform based on DNA-gated nanoscale porous carbon derived from a metal-organic framework for specific detection of Herpes simplex virus type 1

Abstract

In this study, a highly efficient sensing platform based on metal-organic framework-derived porous carbon (MOF-PC) and bio-gatekeeper strategy was designed for the sensitive detection of Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). To realize the aim above, MOF-PC was obtained through the carbonization of the zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF-8). The electroactive dye methylene blue (MB) was then captured as a signal probe in the MOF-PC pores. Specifically, HSV-1 highly specific antisense ssDNA oligonucleotide was connected to MOF-PC through π-stacking interaction as a gatekeeper and sealed up the pores of MOF-PC. By adding the targets (synthetic ssDNA target or total genome HSV-1 DNA) and hybridization between the immobilized specific antisense ssDNA oligonucleotides and the targets, the double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) was separated from the MOF-PC surface due to the low affinity of the MOF-PC to the dsDNA. Meanwhile, MBs were released from the opened holes of MOF-PC. Therefore, the intensity of MB peak current in the absence of a target was high and then decreased by releasing and washing of MB molecules. The MB@MOF-PC responded linearly to synthetic ssDNA target in the range from 10−18 to 10−8 M and isolated total genome HSV-1 DNA in the range from 102 to 108 copies/mL. The detection limits of 0.79 aM and 83.4 copies/mL were obtained for the synthetic ssDNA target and total genome HSV-1 DNA, respectively.