Electrochemical and piezoelectric DNA biosensors for hybridisation detection

DNA biosensors (or genosensors) are analytical devices that result from the integration of a sequence-specific probe and a signal transducer. Among other techniques, electrochemical and piezoelectric methods have recently emerged as the most attractive due to their simplicity, low instrumentation costs, possibility for real-time and label-free detection and generally high sensitivity. Focusing on the most recent activity of worldwide researchers, the aim of the present review is to give the readers a critical overview of some important aspects that contribute in creating successful genosensing devices. Advantages and disadvantages of different sensing materials, probe immobilisation chemistries, hybridisation conditions, transducing principles and amplification strategies will be discussed in detail. Dedicated sections will also address the issues of probe design and real samples pre-treatment. Special emphasis will be finally given to those protocols that, being implemented into an array format, are already penetrating the molecular diagnostics market.