Nanomaterial Based Electrochemical DNA Biosensors and Bioassays

This article reviews recent advances in nanomaterials based electrochemical DNA biosensors and bioassays. Colloidal gold/silver/platinum, semiconductor nanoparticles, nanowires and markers loaded nanocarriers (carbon nanotubes, apoferritin and silica nanoparticles), dendrimers, magnetic nanoparticles and liposome beads are discussed. The enormous signal enhancement associated with the use of nanomaterial labels and with the formation of nanomaterial-.DNA hybrids provides the basis for ultrasensitive electrochemical detection of disease-related gene markers, biothreat agents, or infectious agents. In general, all endeavors cited here are geared to achieve one or more of the following goals: signal amplification by several orders of magnitude, lower detection limits, and detecting multiple targets.