Recent progress in sensor arrays using nucleic acid as sensing elements

Sensor arrays have emerged as a promising strategy to differentiate a class of targets by combining multiple sensing elements. However, there are still many challenges in the preparation of multiple sensing elements, such as limited numbers, complicated synthesis, and inefficient signal conversion. Nucleic acid possesses many unique and fascinating properties, including biocompatibility, programmability, functionalization, and molecular recognition. These endow nucleic acids with potential application as powerful sensing elements. A variety of sensor arrays based on nucleic acids have been developed by rational design and controllable preparation. However, there is no comprehensive review of sensor arrays from the perspective of nucleic acid as sensing elements. In the review, the recent research efforts of nucleic acid-involving sensor arrays for detection of multiple targets are highlighted. Besides, some challenges and reasonable prospects for the future exploration of nucleic acid-based sensor arrays are proposed.