Conjugated polymers as novel electrochemical and optical DNA sensors

A range of novel gene sensing methodologies based on intrinsically conducting polymers composed of modified polypyrroles and polythiophenes that were synthesized in the authors’ laboratory are outlined and discussed. These sensors are based on the electrochemical transduction of the hybridization event by conducting polymer thin films. Optical gene detection schemes have also been developed based on cationic conjugated polymer and quantum dots homogeneous assays. The electrochemical and optical readout modalities are compared and discussed.