Exo I signal amplification of a DNA hydrogel film combined with capillary self-driven action for EpCAM detection.

Target-responsive aptamer hydrogels are increasingly used in the field of analytical sensing with different morphologies developed by various strategies. Herein, we developed a DNA hydrogel film combined with capillary self-driven action for the specific detection of the tumor marker EpCAM and further introduced Exo I for signal amplification. EpCAM aptamer was used as a crosslinking agent to construct the DNA hydrogel film. When EpCAM was present, it competed for binding with the EpCAM aptamer, resulting in a permeability change of the DNA hydrogel film attached to one end of the capillary, and leading to different solution flow rates through the capillaries that can be utilized for the quantitative detection of EpCAM. This method did not require any instrument and was easy to use. The distance the solution travelled through the capillary was quantified as the concentration of EpCAM, and only a small amount of DNA hydrogel was required for each detection. The detection limit of EpCAM was as low as 0.018 ng mL, while offering the advantages of good stability and specificity, and showing great potential in point-of-care testing.