Design of DNA biosensors and amperometric microchips featuring copper electrodes

Electrochemical detection (ECD) is one of the best means for producing DNA biosensors and disposable microchips, oriented for electroactive analyte's separation and detection applications like biomedical and in vitro diagnostic. Electrode material is one of the major factors that influence the performance and development of biosensors and ECD microchips. Traditionally, the ECD sensing has been based on platinum electrode which is costly though it offers good current sensitivity. In this study a copper electrode has been investigated as an alternative sensing strategy. Preliminary results indicate that the copper electrodes are also capable of performing both detection and separation, yielding a significant limit of detection. On average the copper electrodes are capable of detecting the redox currents which are consistently higher 10 μA compared to 30 μA for platinum electrodes using DNA analytes. This work will pave the way in designing a more affordable and disposable microchips.