An Overview to Magnetic Beads Used in Electrochemical DNA Biosensors

Abstract

Nucleic acid layers combined with electrochemical or optical tr~msducers produce a new kind of affmity biosensors such as "DNA Biosensor" or "Ge:nosensor" for small molecular weight molecules. Electrochemical DNA biosensors are attractive devices for converting the hybridization event into an analytical signal for obtaining sequencespecific information in connection with clinical, environmental or forensic investigations. DNA hybridization biosensors, based on electrochemical transduction of hybridization, couple the high specificity of hybridization reactions with the excellent sensitivity and portability of electrochemical transducers. The ultimate goal in all research is to design DNA biosensors for preparing a basis for the future DNA microarray system. Recently, there has been an interest in magnetic beads for designing of new electrochemical DNA biosensor approaches resulting in efficient magnetic separation. Attractive features of this technology include simple approach, rapid results, multi-analyte detection, low-cost per measurument, stable, and nonhazardous reagents, and reduced waste handling. Some of these new approaches and applications of the electrochemical DNA biosensors based on magnetic beads are described and discussed.