Label-free DNA biosensor based on SERS Molecular Sentinel on Nanowave chip

Development of a rapid, cost-effective, label-free biosensor for DNA detection is important for many applications in clinical diagnosis, homeland defense, and environment monitoring. A unique label-free DNA biosensor based on Molecular Sentinel (MS) immobilized on a plasmonic 'Nanowave' chip, which is also referred to as a metal film over nanosphere (MFON), is presented. Its sensing mechanism is based upon the decrease of the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) intensity when Raman label tagged at one end of MS is physically separated from the MFON's surface upon DNA hybridization. This method is label-free as the target does not have to be labeled. The MFON fabrication is relatively simple and low-cost with high reproducibility based on depositing a thin shell of gold over close-packed arrays of nanospheres. The sensing process involves a single hybridization step between the DNA target sequences and the complementary MS probes on the Nanowave chip without requiring secondary hybridization or posthybridization washing, thus resulting in rapid assay time and low reagent usage. The usefulness and potential application of the biosensor for medical diagnostics is demonstrated by detecting the human radical S-adenosyl methionine domain containing 2 (RSAD2) gene, a common inflammation biomarker.