Carbon nanotube-based electrochemical signal amplification for breast cancer gene detection
by Abdel-Nasser Kawde
International Journal of Nano and Biomaterials (IJNBM), Vol. 2, No. 1/2/3/4/5, 2009

Abstract: Carbon-nanotubes (CNT) represent an important group of nanomaterials with useful properties that enable their use for many important applications and made them extremely attractive for the task of electrochemical detection. Here, the author uses CNT to enhance the sensitivity of a multi-enzyme-based electrochemical bioassay for breast cancer gene (BRCA1) detection. Giant enzyme-based electrochemical nucleic acids hybridisation assay for detecting specific segments related to the breast-cancer gene is described. The 'giant' enzyme tag is a DNA-streptavidin coated polystyrene sphere loaded with many biotinylated alkaline phosphatase enzyme molecules based on the strong affinity of the streptavidin-biotin complex. The overall performance along with factors influencing the signal amplification of hybridisation signals are assessed and optimised. Such amplified electrical transduction allows the detection of breast cancer related nucleic acids segments down to 16 amol levels with 20 minutes hybridisation time and offers a great promise for early, accurate, simple and fast disease diagnosis.

Online publication date: Sat, 08-Aug-2009

The full text of this article is only available to individual subscribers or to users at subscribing institutions.

 
Existing subscribers:
Go to Inderscience Online Journals to access the Full Text of this article.

Pay per view:
If you are not a subscriber and you just want to read the full contents of this article, buy online access here.

Complimentary Subscribers, Editors or Members of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Nano and Biomaterials (IJNBM):
Login with your Inderscience username and password:

Username:        Password:          Forgotten your password?

Want to subscribe?
A subscription gives you complete access to all articles in the current issue, as well as to all articles in the previous three years (where applicable). See our Orders page to subscribe.

If you still need assistance, please email subs@inderscience.com