University:   UCM

Area:          Science and engineering

Research Group that develop the transfer activity: Electroanalysis and Electrochemical (Bio)Sensors 

Researcher in charge of Research Group: Susana Campuzano Ruiz: gebe@ucm.es

Description: The developed technologies allow the individual or simultaneous determination

                 of the main methylated bases in DNA (5-methylcytosine, 5-mC and 5-

                 hydroxymethylcytosine, 5-hmC) and RNA (N6-methyladenosine, m6A) both

                 globally and regionally in a fast, reliable and simple way. The developed

                 methodologies are based on the use of amperometric biosensors that employ

                 micromagnetic carriers (MBs) functionalized with suitable bioreceptors and

                 amperometric detection on disposable screen-printed electrodes.In these

                 biodevices the amperometric signal obtained, which can be related to the

                 amount of target methylated base, is based on the enzymatic and

                 electrochemical reactions involved in the horseradish peroxidase

                 (HRP)/hydroquinone (HQ)/H2O2 system that take place after the capture of the

                 MBs on the surface of a disposable electrochemical transducer at an appropriate

                 constant potential.

Advantages:  Among the competitive advantages of the developed methodologies are the

                  following:Easily transferable to the determination of other epimarks of

                  interest.Due to the type of detection and instrumentation used, simple

                  implementation in point-of-care (POC) or "sample-result" diagnostic devices.

                  Possibility of simultaneous determination of 5-mC and 5-hmC, the two most

                  frequent and similar methylated bases in DNA.Sensitivity at the level of a single

                   base without the need to use nucleic acid amplification steps. Capable of

                  operating at room temperature.Provide quantitative results in less than 2 h and

                   at a very affordable cost (< 2 €/determination).