Functional magnetic nanoparticle-based trapping and sensing approaches for label-free fluorescence detection of DNA

► A label-free fluorescence detection method for DNA is designed using functional magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) as trapping and detection probes. ► Microwave heating is employed to assist in the fabrication of detection probes and to accelerate the detection processes for the target DNA. The full period for analysis is only about 1 h. ► The detection limit is as low as 40 pM. Furthermore, examining the sensing results through the naked eye is possible when the DNA concentration in the sample is ≥10 nM. ► This approach is potentially suitable for the rapid sensing of target DNAs from sample solutions in terms of qualitative and semi-quantitative high throughput analysis.