Rapid detection of ssDNA and RNA using multi-walled carbon nanotubes modified screen-printed carbon electrode

A method for rapid sensitive detection of DNA or RNA was designed using a composite screen-printed carbon electrode modified with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs). MWNTs showed catalytic characteristics for the direct electrochemical oxidation of guanine or adenine residues of signal strand DNA (ssDNA) and adenine residues of RNA, leading to indicator-free detection of ssDNA and RNA concentrations. With an accumulation time of 5 min, the proposed method could be used for detection of calf thymus ssDNA ranging from 17.0 to 345 μg ml−1 with a detection limit of 2.0 μg ml−1 at 3σ and yeast tRNA ranging from 8.2 μg ml−1 to 4.1 mg ml−1. AC impedance was employed to characterize the surface of modified electrodes. The advantages of convenient fabrication, low-cost detection, short analysis time and combination with nanotechnology for increasing the sensitivity made the subject worthy of special emphasis in the research programs and sources of new commercial products.