A universal and sensitive sensing platform for biomolecular detection based on the hybridization chain reaction amplification and gold nanoparticles colorimetry

•A strategy combines hybridization chain reaction (HCR) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) colorimetry is proposed.•The quality ofstrategy is validated by TEM, DLS and Gel electrophoresis analysis.•This platform shows a high sensitivity and good selectivity for nucleic acid and thrombin.•This platform has been successfully applied in the spiked human serum samples.