Electrochemical DNA detection using Hoechst dyes in microfluidic chips

We fabricate microfluidic DNA sensors based on the electrochemical method that uses Hoechst 33258 [2'-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-5-(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl)-2,5'-bi(1H-benzimidazole)] as a DNA intercalator. These chips are fabricated without a probe immobilization process, thereby being more simply regenerated than other typical DNA chips. Linear sweep voltammetric measurements show an anodic-current decrease consistent with the DNA duplex formation which occurs when the target is fully complementary to the probe, enabling sequence-specific DNA detection. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.