A non-labeled DNA biosensor based on light addressable potentiometric sensor modified with TiO2 thin film

Titanium dioxide (TiO_2) thin film was deposited on the surface of the light addressable potentiometric sensor (LAPS) to modify the sensor surface for the non-labeled detection of DNA molecules. To evaluate the effect of ultraviolet (UV) treatment on the silanization level of TiO_2 thin film by 3-aminopropyltrietboxysilane (APTS), fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) was used to label the amine group on the end of APTS immobilized onto the TiO_2 thin film. We found that, with UV irradiation, the silani-zation level of the irradiated area of the TiO_2 film was improved compared with the non-irradiated area under well-controlled conditions. This result indicates that TiO_2 can act as a coating material on the biosensor surface to improve the effect and effi-ciency of the covalent immobilization of biomolecules on the sensor surface. The artificially synthesized probe DNA molecules were covalently linked onto the surface of TiO_2 film. The hybridization of probe DNA and target DNA was monitored by the recording of Ⅰ-Ⅴ curves that shift along the voltage axis during the process of reaction. A significant LAPS signal can be detected at 10 μmol/L of target DNA sample.