Highly selective DNA biosensor based on the long-range electron transfer of indigo carmine through DNA duplex

We have developed a highly selective DNA biosensor. It was based on the long-range electron transfer (LRET) from the electroactive dye indigo carmine (IC) through the DNA duplex on a glassy carbon electrode. Voltammetric experiments showed that IC interacts with dsDNA through a typical intercalative mode with a relatively strong affinity of 2.3(±0.6) x 106 M-1. If incubated with DNA in IC solution, no response was observed with the ssDNA-modified probe electrode. However, a pair of well-defined redox peak was observed with a DNA-hybridized electrode, proving the presence of LRET on the biosensor. The biosensor also can differentiate complementary sequences, non-complementary sequences, and even the mutated sequences with single-base mismatches at different sites. (author)