Applications of DNA-Based Biosensors in Diagnostics

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue concerns the use of DNA-based biosensors as analytical detection devices for diagnostics in different fields, including applications in human health, drug discovery, food analysis, bio-security, environmental monitoring, process industries, and so on. This Special Issue aims to collate original and significant works showing the basic principles, designs, interpretation models, developments, applications of DNA-based biosensors.

DNA is not only one of best known biomacromolecules in human cells and almost all living organisms, but it also constitutes an excellent material endowed with unique properties such as biocompatibility, stability, specificity and programmability. Due to these great advantages, many biosensors with DNA as a probe molecule have been fabricated, representing powerful tools for chemical, biological and medical applications.

The main principle of DNA-based biosensors is illustrated in graphical abstract, endowed as they are with a biological recognition element, transducer, and detector. First, genetic molecules are extracted from diagnostic analytes including diseased or cancerous cells, viruses (such as COVID-19 and HIV), or other biological components. Then, these DNA recognition elements can be integrated with transducers via immobilization, induced by covalent interaction, cross-linking, or adsorption. Finally, the transducers can convert molecular biological signals into measurable signals, such as takes place with the optical, or electrical, or mechanical method, which will be analyzed automatically by computation devices.

Although DNA-based biosensors have played a huge role in many areas, especially in the current global coronavirus outbreak, there are still many open questions on this matter: How to surpass the limitations of the molecular detection and diagnostic devices? How to improve the fabrication reproducibility and detection signal stability? What is the transduction mechanism for DNA detections, especially at nanoscale biomolecular interfaces? What are the new trends in the design of DNA biosensors that make it low cost and more integratable with new functionality? Any relevant contribution to this blooming field is welcome for submission to this Special Issue.

Prof. Dr. Nenghui Zhang
Dr. Zouqing Tan
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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• DNA biosensor
• diagnostic device
• surface modification
• biomolecular interaction
• detection signal
• virus detection
• DNA nanotechnology
• nanomaterial
• modelling