Electrochemical genosensor design:: immobilisation of oligonucleotides onto transducer surfaces and detection methods

The present report reviews immobilisation techniques of purified oligonucleotides on electrochemical transducers and their corresponding detection techniques. Most of the literature reviewed was published in the 1990s. The immobilisation techniques of a DNA probe to the surface of an electrochemical transducer made from carbon, gold, platinum or polypyrrole, ranged from simple adsorption to covalent bonding. Recent efforts to couple the recognition layer containing the immobilised nucleic acid recognition layer with the electrochemical signal transducer are discussed. Special attention is given to hybridisation biosensing based on electroactive indicators. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.