β-Cyclodextrin functionalized graphene as a highly conductive and multi-site platform for DNA immobilization and ultrasensitive sensing detection

A versatile nanocomposite containing β-cyclodextrin and graphene (CD-GR) was prepared through a simple chemical reduction method. The characterization experiments show that the nanocomposite remains the flake-like morphology of GR, but its solubility and stability in aqueous solution are greatly improved. Then the nanocomposite was modified at glassy carbon electrode (GCE) surface, and was used as a functional matrix for the covalent immobilization of probe DNA using 2,4,6-trichloro-1,3,5-triazine (TCT) as the crosslinker. Due to the synergetic effect of large surface area of GR and rich hydroxyl of CD, the probe density for the developed biosensor was determined to as high as 3.82×1013 molecules cm−2. Meanwhile, the biosensor shows high hybridization efficiency and hybridization kinetic. When the biosensor was applied for the impedance-based hybridization test, a wide linear range from 1.0×10−16 to 1.0×10−12 M and an ultralow detection limit of 3.4×10−17 M were achieved. The biosensor also displays excellent stability, selectivity, and reproducibility.