DNA-Based Electrochemical Devices and Biosensors

Convener:

Richard Bowater, University of East Anglia, UK

Programme:

Thursday 6 August (morning and afternoon)

Keynote Speakers

Depositing metals in and around DNA using click chemistry
Thomas Carell, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Germany

Folding-based electrochemical biosensors
Kevin Plaxco, University of California, Santa Barbara, USA

Award Lecture

Using electrochemical SERS to discriminate mutations in DNA
Philip N. Bartlett, University of Southampton, UK
(Winner of the RSC Tilden Prize 2008)

Speakers

Micro-analytical flow system coupled with magnetic particles for DNA electrochemical sensing
Francesca Berti, Università di Firenze, Italy

Label-free electrochemical detection of DNA strand breakage and ligation
Mirek Fojta, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Czech Republic

A simplified AC impedimetric DNA biosensor with femtogram sensitivity allowing differentiation down to the level of a single gene - and subsequent interrogations of DNA hybridisation via scanning electrochemical microscopy
Seamus Higson, Cranfield University, UK

DNA HJ nanoswitches for electrochemically-controlled label-free biosensing
Andrew R. Mount, University of Edinburgh, UK

Electrochemistry of nucleic acids and its use in DNA sensors
Emil Palecek, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Czech Republic

Symposium Information

DNA has key functions in cells due to its roles in the storage and transmission of genetic information in cells. The biological functions of DNA molecules take advantage of their capacity to undergo self-recognition and adopt a wide range of molecular structures. Such chemical properties of DNA can also be exploited to provide tools that detect other molecules or chemicals. Recently, improved understanding of electrochemical properties of DNA has allowed rapid development of such analytical systems, which have considerable commercial potential to be used as "biosensors". 

This timely symposium will act as a valuable forum for discussion of recent developments in the theory and application of DNA-mediated electrochemistry, with particular emphasis on its potential to provide novel tools for detection of specific compounds.

The interdisciplinary nature of this symposium mean that it will be of useful to chemists, biologists, biophysicists and material scientists with interests spanning nucleic acid chemistry, electrochemistry and bioassay technology.