A label-free logic gate hairpin aptasensor for sensitive detection of ATP based on graphene oxide and PicoGreen dye

Background In this paper, a simple, enzyme-free, label-free fluorescence, high sensitivity logic gate hairpin aptasensor was developed for adenosine triphosphate (ATP) detection based on graphene oxide (GO) and PicoGreen dye. Methods Using single-strand deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) as input signal and fluorescence signal as output signal, if single-strand DNA (DNA-L), single-strand DNA (DNA-S), and ATP were present at the same time, one segment of DNA-L formed a hairpin ring with ATP, and the other segment of DNA-L formed a completely complementary hairpin stem with DNA-S. The hairpin DNA was detached from the GO surface, and PicoGreen dye was embedded into the hairpin stem, and the fluorescence signal was enhanced. The molecular logic gate was constructed through the establishment of logic histogram, logic circuit, truth table, and logic formula. The biosensor-related performances including sensitivity, selectivity, and linearity were investigated, respectively. Results We have successfully constructed a AND logic gate. The detection limit of ATP is 138.0 pmol/L (3σ/slope) with detection range of 50–500 nmol/L ( R 2 = 0.98951), and its sensitivity is 4.748 × 10 6 –6.875 × 10 8 a.u. (mol/L) −1 . Conclusions The logic gate hairpin aptamer sensor has the advantages of high sensitivity, low detection limit, and low cost, and can be successfully applied to the detection of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in actual human urine samples.