Sensing Materials: Electrochemical Applications of DNA Sensors and Biosensors

DNA analysis usually requires enhanced sensitivity techniques to detect even the slightest molecular alteration. Electrochemical methods provide versatile, accessible and powerful tools with enhanced sensitivity, selectivity and ease of manipulation, in which sensors with several architectural possibilities can be developed towards biochemical, biomedical and environmental assays. DNA-based sensors and biosensors can be applied to the evaluation of DNA-drug interactions, in a non-specific signal transducing mechanism, and also in the detection of specific genetic sequences of cancer biomarkers, pathogens, as well as in food analysis. Here, the development, transducing mechanism, and applications of DNA-based sensors and biosensors are discussed.