Efficient Determination of PML/RARα Fusion Gene by the Electrochemical DNA Biosensor Based on Carbon Dots/Graphene Oxide Nanocomposites

Zi-Yang Zhang,1 Lin-Xiao Huang,1 Zhi-Wei Xu,1 Peng Wang,1 Yun Lei,1,2 Ai-Lin Liu1,2 1Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, The School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350122, People’s Republic of China; 2Higher Educational Key Laboratory for Nano Biomedical Technology of Fujian Province, The School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350122, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Yun Lei; Ai-Lin LiuDepartment of Pharmaceutical Analysis, The School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350122, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86 591 22862016Email lypiglet@163.com; ailinliu@fjmu.edu.cnPurpose: The PML/RARα fusion gene as a leukemogenesis plays a significant role in clinical diagnosis of the early stage of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). Here, we present an electrochemical biosensor for PML/RARα fusion gene detection using carbon dots functionalized graphene oxide (CDs/GO) nanocomposites modified glassy carbon electrode (CDs/GO/GCE).Materials and Methods: In this work, the CDs/GO nanocomposites are produced through π-π stacking interaction and could be prepared in large quantities by a facile and economical way. The CDs/GO nanocomposites were decorated onto electrode surface to improve the electrochemical activity and as a bio-platform attracted the target deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) probe simultaneously.Results: The CDs/GO/GCE was fabricated successfully and exhibits high electrochemical activity, good biocompatibility, and strong bioaffinity toward the target DNA sequences, compared with only the pristine CDs on GCE or GO on GCE. The DNA biosensor displays excellent sensing performance for detecting the relevant pathogenic DNA of APL with a detection limit of 83 pM (S/N = 3).Conclusion: According to the several experimental results, we believe that the simple and economical DNA biosensor has the potential to be an effective and powerful tool for detection of pathogenic genes in the clinical diagnosis.Keywords: acute promyelocytic leukemia, pathogenic genes, electrochemical biosensor, ex-situ method, carbon nanomaterials