An electrochemical DNA hybridization detection assay based on a silver nanoparticle label

A novel, sensitive electrochemical DNA hybridization detection assay, using silver nanoparticles as the oligonucleotide labeling tag, is described. The assay relies on the hybridization of the target DNA with the silver nanoparticle-oligonucleotide DNA probe, followed by the release of the silver metal atoms anchored on the hybrids by oxidative metal dissolution and the indirect determination of the solubilized Ag-I ions by anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV) at a carbon fiber ultramicroelectrode. The influence of the relevant experimental variables, including the surface coverage of the target oligonucleotide, the duration of the silver dissolution steps and the parameters of the electrochemical stripping measurement of the silver(I) ions, is examined and optimized. The combination of the remarkable sensitivity of the stripping metal analysis at the microelectrode with the large number of silver(I) ions released from each DNA hybrid allows detection at levels as low as 0.5 pmol L-1 of the target oligonucleotides.