Electrochemical characteristics of a DNA modified electrode as a function of percent binding

Electrochemical characteristics of immobilized double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) on a Au electrode were studied as a function of coverage using a home-built optoelectrochemical method. The method allows probing of local redox processes on a 6 μm spot by measuring both differential reflectivity (SEED-R) and interferometry (SEED-I). The former is sensitive to redox ions that tend to adsorb to the electrode, while SEED-I is sensitive to nonadsorbing ions. The redox reaction maxima, R_max and _max from SEED-R and SEED-I, respectively, are linearly proportional to amperometric peak current, I_max. The DNA binding is measured by a redox active dye, methylene blue, that intercalates in dsDNA, leading to an R_max. Concomitantly, the absence of _max for [Fe(CN)₆]^4-/3- by SEED-I ensures that there is no leakage current from voids/defects in the alkanethiol passivation layer at the same spot of measurement. The binding was regulated electrochemically to obtain the binding fraction, f, ranging about three orders of magnitude. A remarkably sharp transition, f = f_T = 1.25 × 10^-3, was observed. Below f_T, dsDNA molecules behaved as individual single-molecule nanoelectrodes. Above the crossover transition, R_max, per dsDNA molecule dropped rapidly as f^-1/2 toward a planar-like monolayer. The SEED-R peak at f ∼3.3 × 10^-4 (∼270 dsDNA molecules) was (statistically) robust, corresponding to a responsivity of ∼0.45 zeptomoles of dsDNA/spot. Differential pulse voltammetry in the single-molecule regime estimated that the current per dsDNA molecule was ∼4.1 fA. Compared with published amperometric results, the reported semilogarithmic dependence on target concentration is in the f > f_T regime.