Selective monitoring of ultra-trace guanine and adenine from hydrolyzed DNA using boron-doped carbon electrode surfaces

Abstract

Low cost, sensitive, and selective electrode designs for ultra-trace detection of biomolecules are needed for human health quality. The electrochemical electrode design based on carbon microspheres (CMS), and boron-doped carbon nanospheres (B-CNS) were fabricated for detection and determination of ultra-trace guanine (Gu) and adenine (Ad) from hydrolyzed DNA. The B-CNS geometrical nanosphere structures leverage the electrode designs with multicentral binding sites, diverse diffusion dimensionalities, interlinked and mat surface vicinities (i.e., grooves, voids, and cavity-like nests). Our finding shows evidence that the B-CNS electrode offers free occupation and high diffusivity of Ad and Gu targets with massive target-to-site transport. The B-CNS electrode achieves highly sensitive and selective signaling of Gu and Ad at trace levels with low detection limits of 0.4 and 0.2 nmol L–1 (S/N = 3), respectively. The B-CNS determines the screening of Gu and Ad from hydrolyzed DNA at ultra-trace-level concentrations, facile selectivity, high stability, and multiple reusability (RSD range of 1.001 %–2.73 %). Results showed that B-CNS can be used for ultra-trace signaling of Gu and Ad and evaluation of DNA distortion, immune system dysfunction, and abnormal mutation in the human health quality.