Fluorescent sensors using DNA-functionalized graphene oxide

Abstract

In the past few years, graphene oxide (GO) has emerged as a unique platform to develop DNA-based biosensors. This takes advantage of the DNA adsorption and fluorescence quenching property of GO.The adsorbed DNA probes can be desorbed from the GO surface in the presence of target analytes, producing fluorescence signal. In addition to this initial design, many other strategies have been reported including the use of aptamers, molecular beacons, and DNAzymes as probes, label-free detection, using the intrinsic fluorescence of GO and covalently linked DNA probes. The potential applications of DNA-functionalized GO range from environmental monitoring, cell imaging and biomedical diagnosis. In this review, we first summarize the fundamental surface interactions between DNA and GO and the related fluorescence quenching mechanism. Following that, the various sensor design strategies are critically compared. Problems at the current stages are described and a few future directions are also discussed.

Comparison of MoS2, WS2, and Graphene Oxide for DNA Adsorption and Sensing

“…7 To disperse in water and interface with biopolymers, graphene oxide (GO) is often used. [8][9][10] The interaction between GO and DNA has been extensively studied, [11][12][13][14][15] which has inspired the exploration of various other 2D materials.…”

Comparison of Graphene Oxide and Reduced Graphene Oxide for DNA Adsorption and Sensing

“…Adding a complementary DNA (cDNA) can desorb fluorescent probe DNA resulting in fluorescence enhancement. [6][7][8][9][10][11] In addition, amino-modified DNAs were covalently attached to the carboxyl groups on GO forming an amide bond, avoiding non-specific probe displacement. [12][13][14][15] Many DNA-related enzymes were also involved to introduce functions such as signal amplification.…”

Intracellular Detection of ATP Using an Aptamer Beacon Covalently Linked to Graphene Oxide Resisting Nonspecific Probe Displacement

“…4 GO has emerged as an analytical platform in the past few years to interface with various biopolymers, especially with DNA. [5][6][7][8][9][10][11] The success of this platform owes to the following three properties. First, GO is an efficient and general fluorescence quencher and all tested fluorophores are strongly quenched nearby the GO surface.…”

“…Since then, this scheme has been adapted in many different systems for detecting a broad range of analytes. 6,[29][30][31] Being highly negatively charged, normally DNA probes cannot spontaneously enter 4 cells. A cationic delivery vehicle or nanostructured DNA is required for intracellular detection.…”