Rapid and sensitive detection of box turtles using an electrochemical DNA biosensor based on a gold/graphene nanocomposite

• Abu Hashem,
• M. A. Motalib Hossain,
• Ab Rahman Marlinda,
• Mohammad Al Mamun,
• Khanom Simarani and
• Mohd Rafie Johan

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2022, 13, 1458–1472, doi:10.3762/bjnano.13.120

• Southeast Asian box turtle, Cuora amboinensis, is an ecologically important endangered species which needs an onsite monitoring device to protect it from extinction. An electrochemical DNA biosensor was developed to detect the C. amboinensis mitochondrial cytochrome b gene based on an in silico designed

• in the range of 1 × 10−11–5 × 10−6 M with a limit of detection of 0.85 × 10−12 M. This indicates that the proposed biosensor has the potential to be applied for the detection of real turtle species. Keywords: box turtle; DNA detection; electrochemical DNA biosensor; nanocomposite; screen-printed

• carbon electrode; Introduction The Southeast Asian box turtle (BT), Cuora amboinensis, is an endangered and protected turtle species. Due to its high value as an exotic food item and in traditional medicine, it ends up being a profitable item in the illicit wildlife trade [1]. Turtles contain active