Functional DNA-Integrated Nanomaterials for Biosensing - DNA Nanotechnology: From Structure to Function - page 267

Chapter 13
Functional DNA-Integrated Nanomaterials
for Biosensing

Lele Li and Yi Lu

Abstract This chapter reviews recent progress in the development of biosensors
by integrating functional DNA molecules with nanoscale science and technology.
Functional DNA, a new class of DNA with functions beyond genetic information
storage, can either bind to a target molecule (known as aptamers) or perform
catalytic reactions (called DNAzymes). The targets of functional DNA can range
from metal ions and small organic molecules to proteins, and even cells, making
them a general platform for recognizing a broad range of targets. On the other
hand, recent progress in nanoscale science and technology has resulted in a number
of nanomaterials with interesting optical, electrical, magnetic, and catalytic prop-
erties. Inspired by functional DNA biology and nanotechnology, various methods
have been developed to integrate functional DNA with these nanomaterials, such
as gold nanoparticles, fluorescent nanoparticles, superparamagnetic iron oxide
nanoparticles, and graphene, for designing a variety of fluorescent, colorimetric,
surface-enhanced Raman scattering, and magnetic resonance imaging sensors for
the detection of a broad range of analytes.

Keywords Biosensor • DNA • Aptamer • DNAzyme • Nanomaterials

13.1 Introduction

Nanomaterials, one of the critical technologies of the twenty-first century, have
generated widespread interest and applications in diverse fields including chemistry,
physics, materials science, biology, and medicine [ 1 - 3 ]. The special physical effects

L. Li • Y. Lu ( )
Department of Chemistry, Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology,
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
e-mail: [e-mail]