Micro-nano Structured Materials for DNA/RNA Amplification-based Electrochemical Tests

Abstract

Nucleic acid amplification is now a standardized analytical technique, allowing precise and rapid determination of the presence of a determined DNA/RNA sequence. Moreover, some sophisticated equipment allows the exquisite quantification of the number of copies originally presented in a sample; many different protocols, enzymes, labels, and equipment have been developed over time, allowing high throughput and automatization. In the same way, modern nanotechnology has been developed over several decades, and now almost any laboratory can synthesize and characterize nanoparticles of different materials and tune size and shape. We believe there is then an opportunity to merge both already mature technological areas and find new and exciting applications to improve the analytical performance, lower the per-analysis cost, and made the whole process (from reagents elaboration to disposal) more environmentally friendly. Here we explore some of the possibilities where nanoscience and nucleic acid amplification could come together to obtain better analytical systems.