Real-time PCR for direct aptamer quantification on functionalized graphene surfaces

In this study, we develop a real-time PCR strategy to directly detect and quantify DNA aptamers on functionalized graphene surfaces using a Staphylococcus aureus aptamer (SA20) as demonstration case. We show that real-time PCR allowed aptamer quantification in the range of 0.05 fg to 2.5 ng. Using this quantitative technique, it was possible to determine that graphene functionalization with amino modified SA20 (preceded by a graphene surface modification with thionine) was much more efficient than the process using SA20 with a pyrene modification. We also demonstrated that the functionalization methods investigated were selective to graphene as compared to bare silicon dioxide surfaces. The precise quantification of aptamers immobilized on graphene surface was performed for the first time by molecular biology techniques, introducing a novel methodology of wide application.