Carbon dots stabilized silver-lipid nano hybrids for sensitive label free DNA detection.

Carbon dots have been extensively used for the development of fluorescent based molecular affinity sensors. However, label free DNA sensing by electrochemical method is not reported so far. Herein, we report carbon dots stabilized silver nanoparticles (CD-AgNPs) lipid nano hybrids as a sensitive and selective platform for label free electrochemical DNA sensing. The CD-AgNPs were synthesized by wet chemical method and then characterized by UV-visible, Fourier-transform Infra-red (FT-IR), dynamic light scattering (DLS) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) techniques. These CD-AgNPs were used for decorating the binary lipid 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DOPE) and N-[1-(2,3-Dioleoyloxy)propyl]-N,N,N-trimethylammonium chloride (DOTAP) surface (named as lipid) and tethered on self-assembled monolayer of 3-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) (MPA-lipid-CD-AgNPs). The formation of array of MPA-lipid-CD-AgNPs on Au electrode was confirmed by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Electrochemical behavior of MPA- lipid-CD-AgNPs was monitored in the presence of 1 mM potassium ferri/ferrocyanide (K/K [Fe(CN)]). The formation of layer-by-layer MPA-lipid-CD-AgNPs is indicated by increased anodic and cathodic peak (ΔE) separation with decreased redox peak current of K/K [Fe(CN)]. Short chain DNA (30 mer oligonucleotide, representing the lung cancer) was used as a model system for label free DNA sensing. Un-hybridized (single stranded DNA), hybridized (complementary hybridized), single, double and triple base mismatched target DNA hybridized surfaces were efficiently discriminated at 1 µM target DNA concentration at the Au/MPA-lipid-CD-AgNPs electrode by change in the charge transfer resistance from impedance technique. Further, the modified electrode was successfully used to determine target DNA in a wide linear range from 10 to 10 M. The present work open doors for the utilization of CDs in molecular affinity based electrochemical sensor design and development.