DNA biosensor by using magnetic nanomaterials and serial signal amplification strategy

It is important to develop highly sensitive and selective biosensors for detection of specific DNA sequences due to the low abundance of disease specific DNA and the complexity of the biological samples in the clinical trials. To meet this challenge, the signal amplification strategy based on hybridization chain reaction (HCR) is particular attractive because it doesn't need enzyme or labeling process [1]. Recently, a signal amplification approach with enzyme-induced silver metallization on the gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) for sensitive colorimetric detection of avian influenza viruses was reported [2]. Herein, we propose a highly sensitive and selective biosensor that combines HCR signal amplification with enzyme-induced metallization for colorimetric sequence-specific DNA detection.