Compositions and methods for electrochemical detection of nucleic acid are
disclosed. The compositions comprise electrocatalytic intercalators that
bind to double-stranded nucleic acid and oxidize nucleic acid. Methods of
detecting nucleic acid in a sample comprise forming double-stranded
nucleic acid that is bound by electrocatalytic intercalators wherein the
intercalators catalyze oxidation of the nucleic acid at the surface of an
electrode.