Dyes as bifunctional markers of DNA hybridization on surfaces and mutation detection

•Interaction of Safranine and Azure A with DNA is demonstrated.•Peak current decreases were seen after DNA hybridization for both dyes.•Electrochemical DNA biosensor development using the dyes as redox indicator•Rapid gene mutation detection achieved for real DNA samples

The interaction of small molecules with DNA has found diagnostic and therapeutic applications. In this work, we propose the use of two different dyes, in particular Azure A and Safranine, as bifunctional markers of on-surface DNA hybridization and potent tools for screening of specific gene mutations directly in real DNA PCR amplicons extracted from blood cells. By combining spectroscopic and electrochemical methods we demonstrate that both dyes can interact with single and double stranded DNA to a different extent, allowing reliable hybridization detection. From these data, we have also elucidated the nature of the interaction. We conclude that the binding mode is fundamentally intercalative with an electrostatic component. The dye fluorescence allows their use as nucleic acid stains for the detection of on-surfaces DNA hybridization. Its redox activity is exploited in the development of selective electrochemical DNA biosensors.

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