SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR EFFECTIVE DIAGNOSTIC OLIGONUCLEOTIDE DETECTION
The present invention relates to electrochemical sensors for oligonucleotide detection. The sensors may feature a probe composition, e.g., an oligonucleotide and an indicator attached to a 5′ end of the probe, attached to a surface such as gold; and a back-filler additive bound to at least a portion space on the surface of the electrochemical sensor not occupied by the probe composition.
1 . An electrochemical sensor comprising:
a) a surface;
b) a probe composition attached to at least a portion of space on the surface, said probe composition comprising: an oligonucleotide and an indicator attached to a 5′ end of the probe; and
c) a back-filler additive bound to at least a portion of space on the surface of the electrochemical sensor not occupied by the probe composition.
2 . The sensor of claim 1 , wherein the surface is gold.
3 . The sensor of claim 1 , wherein the oligonucleotide of the probe composition comprises DNA or RNA.
4 . The sensor of claim 1 , wherein the oligonucleotide of the probe composition is single stranded.
5 . The sensor of claim 1 , wherein the oligonucleotide of the probe composition is a reverse complement of a target oligonucleotide.
6 . The sensor of claim 1 , wherein the back-filler additive is organic.
7 . The sensor of claim 1 , wherein the back-filler additive is nonreactive.
8 . The sensor of claim 1 , wherein the back-filler additive is mercaptohexanol.
9 . The sensor of claim 1 , wherein the back-filler additive comprises a thiol moiety, the thiol moiety is bound to the surface of the electrochemical sensor.
10 . The sensor of claim 9 , wherein the back-filler additive further comprises a carbon chain linked to the thiol moiety at a first end.
11 . An electrochemical sensor comprising:
a) a gold surface;
b) a probe composition attached to at least a portion of space on the gold surface, said probe composition comprising: a single stranded oligonucleotide and an indicator attached to a 5′ end of the probe, wherein a 3′ end is attached to the gold surface; and
c) a back-filler additive bound to at least a portion of space on the gold surface of the electrochemical sensor not occupied by the probe composition, the back-filler additive comprises a carbon chain and a thiol moiety, and the back-filler additive is bound to the surface via the thiol moiety.
12 . The sensor of claim 11 , wherein the oligonucleotide is single stranded.
13 . The sensor of claim 11 , wherein the oligonucleotide of the probe composition is a reverse complement of a target oligonucleotide.
14 . The sensor of claim 11 , wherein the back-filler additive is organic.
15 . The sensor of claim 11 , wherein the back-filler additive is nonreactive.
16 . The sensor of claim 11 , wherein the back-filler additive is mercaptohexanol.
17 . An electrochemical sensor comprising:
a) a gold surface;
b) a probe composition attached to at least a portion of space on the gold surface, said probe composition comprising: a single stranded oligonucleotide and an indicator attached to a 5′ end of the probe, the 3′ end being attached to the surface; and
c) a back-filler additive bound to at least a portion of space on the gold surface of the electrochemical sensor not occupied by the probe composition, the back-filler additive comprises a carbon chain and a thiol moiety, and the additive is bound to the surface via the thiol moiety.
18 . The sensor of claim 17 , wherein the single stranded oligonucleotide of the probe composition is a reverse complement of a target oligonucleotide.
19 . The sensor of claim 17 , wherein the back-filler additive is organic.
20 . The sensor of claim 17 , wherein the back-filler additive is nonreactive.