Microfabricated tin-film electrodes for protein and DNA sensing based on stripping voltammetric detection of Cd(II) released from quantum dots labels.

A novel disposable microfabricated tin-film electrochemical sensor was developed for the detection of proteins and DNA. The sensor was fabricated on a silicon wafer through photolithography to define the sensor geometry followed by tin sputtering. A sandwich-type immunoassay with biotinylated reporter antibody was employed for the determination of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in human serum samples. For the detection of C533G mutation of the RET gene, biotinylated oligonucleotide probes were used. The biotinylated biomolecular probes were labeled with streptavidin (STV)-conjugated CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs); quantification of the analytes was performed through acidic dissolution of the QDs and stripping voltammetric detection of the Cd(II) released. The proposed QD-based electrochemical sensor overcomes the limitations of existing voltammetric sensors and provides a mercury-free sensing platform with scope for mass-production and further potential for application in clinical diagnostics.