Architectures based on the use of gold nanoparticles and ruthenium complexes as a new route to improve genosensor sensitivity

The preparation of DNA-sensing architectures based on gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs) in conjunction with an “in situ” prepared ruthenium complex as a new route to improve the analytical properties of genosensors is described. In the development of these architectures several strategies to obtain Au-NPs modified gold electrodes (Au-NP/Au) have been essayed, in particular covalent binding and electrochemical deposition from a solution containing Au-NPs previously synthesized. UV–vis absorption measurements in conjunction with transmission electron microscope (TEM) images reveal that the synthesized Au-NPs are stable for at least 4 weeks and have a narrow size distribution. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was employed to characterize the morphology and to estimate the Au-NPs surface coverage of the modified gold electrodes obtained following the different modification strategies. In order to assess the utility of these architectures as DNA-sensing devices, a thiolated capture probe sequence from Helicobacter pylori was immobilized onto the as-prepared surface. This sequence was chosen as a case of study within the framework of developing approaches of wide applicability. The hybridization event is detected using a water-soluble pentaamin ruthenium [3-(2-phenanthren-9-yl-vinyl)-pyridine] complex (Ru(NH3)5L) prepared “in situ”. This complex, due to its intercalative character, is able to bind to double stranded DNA more efficiently than to single stranded DNA. In addition, the metal provides with a redox center that can be used as an electrochemical indicator. On the basis of this strategy, complementary target sequences of H. pylori have been detected over the range of 40–800 pmol with a detection limit of 25 ± 2 pmol.