Genosensor technology and the detection of interfacial nucleic acid chemistry

Recent advances in nucleic acid probe-based biosensors have led to the development of genosensor technology for gene sequence analysis and for nucleic acid-ligand binding studies. This article presents a concise description of the synthesis and surface immobilization of oligonucleotides together with an evaluation of electrochemical, optical and acoustic wave structures that have been employed in genosensor development. Selected examples of the latter are described to highlight the advantages and disadvantages of each type of device. Finally, future prospects of genosensor technology are discussed in terms of new strategies required for oligonucleotide surface immobilization, avoidance of impurities in synthetic probes and nonspecific adsorption processes, detection of genetic variations at multiple sites and development of new approaches to transduction of surface nucleic acid chemistry.