A target-triggered biosensing platform for detection of HBV DNA based on DNA walker and CHA

Hepatitis B virus (HBV), one of the causative agents of viral hepatitis, may lead to chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. In this work, we designed a sensitive and modular biosensing platform for detecting HBV DNA based on a DNA walker that hangs on to surfaces and a catalyst-triggered catalyzed hairpin assembly (CHA). In the presence of HBV DNA, strand displacement reaction between target and double-stranded complex caused the release of walker strand to trigger the DNA walker. Then, a catalyst was free to open the trapped hairpins to form a new double-strand complex, driving the CHA reaction. Thus, a powerful cascade amplification reaction realized in DNA walker and CHA based on toehold-mediated strand displacement reaction in this system. To achieve quantitative detection of HBV DNA, a fluorescent-quencher signaling pair was employed, the turn-on fluorescence provided an analytical signal. A wide detection range from 0.5 nM to 50 nM with a detection limit as low as 0.20 nM was reached on the condition of acceptable specificity and reproducibility. We could also further apply it to multiple different bioanalysis by changing adjustable elements. This reported biosensor opened a new avenue for sensitivity and modularity of DNA detection.