A label-free, PCR-free and signal-on electrochemical DNA biosensor for Leishmania major based on gold nanoleaves

●Gold nanoleaves were electrodeposited by electrodeposition.●A Leishmania major specific DNA probe onto gold nanoleaves to fabricate a signal-on ultrasensitive electrochemical DNA biosensor.●The biosensor was applicable to detect Leishmania major in patient samples.

Detection of leishmaniasis is important in clinical diagnoses. In the present study, identification of Leishmania parasites was performed by a label-free, PCR-free and signal-on ultrasensitive electrochemical DNA biosensor. Gold nanoleaves were firstly electrodeposited by an electrodeposition method using spermidine as a shape directing agent. The biosensor was fabricated by immobilization of a Leishmania major specific DNA probe onto gold nanoleaves, and methylene blue was employed as a marker. Hybridization of the complementary single stranded DNA sequence with the biosensor under the selected conditions was then investigated. The biosensor could detect a synthetic DNA target in a range of 1.0×10−10 to 1.0×10−19 mol L−1 with a limit of detection of 1.8×10−20 mol L−1, and genomic DNA in a range of 0.5–20 ng μL−1 with a limit of detection of 0.07 ng μL−1. The biosensor could distinguish Leishmania major from a non-complementary-sequence oligonucleotide and the tropica species with a high selectivity. The biosensor was applicable to detect Leishmania major in patient samples.

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