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Updated: May 11, 2026

Fabrication of Electrochemical-DNA Biosensors for the Reagentless Detection of Nucleic Acids, Proteins and Small Molecules
Published on: June 1, 2011
Detection of sub-femtomolar DNA based on double potential electrodeposition of electrocatalytic platinum
Elaine Spain1, Hazel McArdle, Tia E Keyes
1School of Chemical Sciences, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Ireland.
Abstract:
Suspensions of electrocatalytic platinum nanoparticles with radii as small as 78.9 ± 3.5 nm that are functionalised with DNA only in one region have been created using templated electrodeposition. The integrity of the bound DNA following nanoparticle desorption from the electrode is demonstrated by detecting attomolar concentrations of DNA without the need for molecular, e.g., PCR or NASBA, amplification. Double potential step approaches coupled with interface engineering via nucleation sites allows PtNPs to be created with controlled particle size and density in a facile and reproducible manner.

