An ion-exchange nanomembrane sensor for detection of nucleic acids using a surface charge inversion phenomenon.
We present a novel low-cost biosensor for rapid, sensitive and selective detection of nucleic acids based on an ionic diode feature of an anion exchange nanoporous membrane under DC bias. The ionic diode feature is associated with external surface charge inversion on the positively charged anion exchange nanomembrane upon hybridization of negatively charged nucleic acid molecules to single-stranded oligoprobes functionalized on the membrane surface resulting in the formation of a cation selective monolayer. The resulting bipolar membrane causes a transition from electroconvection-controlled to water-splitting controlled ion conductance, with a large ion current signature that can be used to accurately quantify the hybridized nucleic acids. The platform is capable of distinguishing two base-pair mismatches in a 22-base pairing segment of microRNAs associated with oral cancer, as well as serotype-specific detection of dengue virus. We also show the sensor' capability to selectively capture target nucleic acids from a heterogeneous mixture. The limit of detection is 1 pM for short 27 base target molecules in a 15-min assay. Similar hybridization results are shown for short DNA molecules as well as RNAs from Brucella and Escherichia coli. The versatility and simplicity of this low-cost biosensor should enable point-of-care diagnostics in food, medical and environmental safety markets.
Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA; Advanced Diagnostics & Therapeutics, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA.
Satyajyoti
S
Senapati
Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA.
Zdenek
Z
Slouka
Advanced Diagnostics & Therapeutics, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA.
Sunny S
SS
Shah
Department of Biological Sciences and Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA.
Susanta K
SK
Behura
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA; Harper Cancer Research Institute, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA.
Zonggao
Z
Shi
Advanced Diagnostics & Therapeutics, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA; Harper Cancer Research Institute, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA.
M Sharon
MS
Stack
Advanced Diagnostics & Therapeutics, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA; Department of Biological Sciences and Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA.
David W
DW
Severson
Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA; Advanced Diagnostics & Therapeutics, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA; Harper Cancer Research Institute, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA. Electronic address: hchang@nd.edu.
Hsueh-Chia
HC
Chang
D001483:Base Sequence; D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation; D002852:Chromatography, Ion Exchange / Q000295:instrumentation*; D003217:Conductometry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis / Q000295:instrumentation; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D058608:Nanopores / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation; D009696:Nucleic Acids / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA / Q000295:instrumentation*; D055672:Static Electricity
D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D009696:Nucleic Acids; D004247:DNA
Biosensing; Charge inversion; DNA/RNA; Electrokinetics; Nanoporous membrane