Electrochemical Sensing of Nucleobases and Nucleotides

Electrochemical sensing of nucleobases and nucleotides has emerged as a powerful analytical approach for rapid, sensitive and cost-effective detection of the fundamental building blocks of nucleic acids. Nucleobases such as adenine, guanine, cytosine and thymine, and their phosphorylated forms (nucleotides), are central to genetic information storage and cellular metabolism. Electrochemical sensors translate redox reactions of these molecules at an electrode interface into quantitative electrical signals, offering advantages of minimal sample preparation, low reagent consumption and potential for miniaturisation. Early efforts relied on unmodified carbon electrodes, but suffered from high overpotentials and limited selectivity. The introduction of nanostructured materials—graphene derivatives, carbon nanotubes, metal nanoparticles and conductive polymers—has dramatically enhanced electron transfer kinetics, increased surface area and improved analytical performance. Techniques such as differential pulse voltammetry and cyclic voltammetry now routinely achieve limits of detection in the nanomolar range, enabling simultaneous resolution of multiple bases. Advances in electrode modification strategies, including biochar composites, diazonium-anchored films and ionic liquid matrices, have reduced surface fouling and enabled real-time monitoring. Integration with microfluidic platforms and wireless readouts is extending applications to point-of-care diagnostics, food quality control and environmental monitoring. Current trends also focus on direct detection of nucleotide triphosphates and oxidative base modifications, with significant implications for disease diagnostics and epigenetic research.

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Electrochemical Sensing of Nucleobases and Nucleotides publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in electrochemical sensing of nucleobases and nucleotides across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Nucleobases: The nitrogenous organic molecules adenine, guanine, cytosine, thymine and uracil that form the building blocks of nucleic acids.

Nucleotides: Nucleobases attached to a pentose sugar and one or more phosphate groups, constituting the monomeric units of DNA and RNA.

Electrochemical sensor: Analytical device that converts a chemical interaction with an analyte into an electrical signal.

Working electrode: The electrode at which the target analyte undergoes oxidation or reduction during electrochemical measurement.

Differential pulse voltammetry: A voltammetric technique using a series of potential pulses to enhance sensitivity and resolution of redox peaks.

Limit of detection: The lowest concentration of an analyte that can be reliably distinguished from a blank signal.

Nanocomposite: A material composed of two or more distinct phases, at least one of which has nanoscale dimensions, to enhance functional properties.

Glassy carbon electrode: A carbon-based electrode material with high conductivity and chemical inertness commonly used in electroanalysis.

References

1. Methylene Blue-Modified Biochar from Sugarcane for the Simultaneous Electrochemical Detection of Four DNA Bases. Chemosensors (2023).
2. Au Nanoparticles on 4-Thiophenol-Electrodeposited Carbon Surfaces for the Simultaneous Detection of 8-Hydroxyguanine and Guanine. Chemosensors (2023).
3. Hybrid Nanomaterial of Graphene Oxide Quantum Dots with Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes for Simultaneous Voltammetric Determination of Four DNA Bases. Nanomaterials (2023).