DNA sensor with a dipyridophenazine complex of osmium(lI) as an electrochemical probe

Application of a dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine (DPPZ)-type metal complex as an DNA electrochemical probe was studied. The introduction of electron-donating groups (NH2) was effective for controlling the redox potential and binding affinities of the DPPZ-type osmium complex. The [Os(DA-bpy)2DPPZ]2+ complex (DA-bpy; 4,4'-diamino-2,2'-bipyridine) had a lower half-wave potential (E 1/2) of 147 mV (vs Ag/AgCl) and higher binding affinity with DNA (binding constant, K = 3.1 x 10(7) M(-1)) than those of other complexes. With a single-stranded DNA immobilized gold electrode, the hybridization signal (deltaI) of the [Os(DA-bpy)2DPPZ]2+ complex was linear in the concentration range of 1.0 pg mL(-1) - 0.12 microg mL(-1) for the targeted DNA with a regression coefficient of 0.999. The detection limit was 0. 1 pg mL(-1). The 400-bp yAL3 gene was also detected with good sensitivity and selectivity using the [Os(DA-bpy)2DPPZ]2+ complex.