A label-free impedance-based electrochemical sensor based on self-assembled dendritic DNA nanostructures for Pb²⁺...

Here, a label-free impedance-based electrochemical sensor was developed for the quantitative detection of Pb²⁺. Using conductive gold nanomaterials as electrode substrate materials can provide sensors with larger specific surface area, action sites and excellent conductivity. DNA nanostructures are used for the determination of biomolecules due to their good properties. The Y-DNA structure is formed by the annealing of three DNA sequences, which acts as a stable structure and forms a dendritic structure in combination with the hybrid chain reaction. In the presence of the target Pb²⁺, it induces the conversion of specific aptamers into G-quadruplexes, resulting in HCR and Y-DNA loading on the electrodes and a significant change in the impedance value signal. Therefore, the proposed biosensor realizes the quantitative detection of Pb²⁺. Under the optimal experimental conditions, the concentration of Pb²⁺ exhibited a linear correlation range from 0.5 to1000 nmol/L with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.38 nmol/L. The designed sensors have good recoveries in real samples (tap water and tea). This flexible experimental protocol has broad application prospects.