DNA Electrostatics: From Theory to Application

Numerous DNA biosensor platforms developed in the last decades rely on DNA electrostatics as the basis for detection. However, the overwhelming number of theoretical studies and computational models of DNA electrostatics poses a barrier to leveraging our deeper mechanistic understanding in this area for the development of new technologies that will push the field towards more sensitive, quantitative, and reliable DNA-based sensors. In this review, we will bridge the gap between the theory and applications of DNA charge and electrical surfaces to overcome this barrier. We will discuss key theories such as Manning's counterion condensation theory, the Poisson-Boltzmann equation, and the Gouy-Chapman model, and provide examples of technological applications that rely on these theories.