Sequence-Independent DNA Adsorption on Few-Layered Oxygen-Functionalized Graphene Electrodes: An Electrochemical Study for Biosensing Application

DNA is strongly adsorbed on oxidized graphene surfaces in the presence of divalent cations. Here, we studied the effect of DNA adsorption on electrochemical charge transfer at few-layered, oxygen-functionalized graphene (GO(x)) electrodes. DNA adsorption on the inkjet-printed GO(x) electrodes caused amplified current response from ferro/ferricyanide redox probe at concentration range 1 aM–10 nM in differential pulse voltammetry. We studied a number of variables that may affect the current response of the interface: sequence type, conformation, concentration, length, and ionic strength. Later, we showed a proof-of-concept DNA biosensing application, which is free from chemical immobilization of the probe and sensitive at attomolar concentration regime. We propose that GO(x) electrodes promise a low-cost solution to fabricate a highly sensitive platform for label-free and chemisorption-free DNA biosensing.