Quartz crystal microbalance DNA based biosensor for diagnosis: A review

Abstract

Generally, the detection of particular DNA sequence is carried out by gel electrophoresis of DNA fragments amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using primers which are specific complementary sequence with the chosen region of DNA. Although gel electrophoresis is simple and effective for detection of PCR products, the use of carcinogenic ethidium bromide as a common stain is risky and hazardous. The DNA quartz crystal microbalance (DNA-QCM) lays the groundwork for incorporating the method for rapid DNA analysis. QCM biosensor is an extremely sensitive mass sensor, capable of measuring picogram levels of mass changes. This is a great potential market for simple, cheap, rapid, and quantitative detection of specific genes. QCM requires any non-labeling such as radio isotope, enzyme, and fluorescence tag. © 2012 IFSA.