Aptasensor for Thrombin Based on Carbon Nanotubes‐Methylene Blue Composites

The amperometric and EQCM aptasensors based on DNA aptamers immobilized by avidin‐biotin method or by electrostatic adsorption onto multiwalled carbon nanotube layer contained methylene blue (MB) have been developed and examined for thrombin detection in buffer and in spiked blood serum. The presence of MB increases the binding capacity of the surface layer and enhances the range of thrombin concentrations to be determined. This results in significant improvement of analytical characteristics of thrombin detection. The EQCM aptasensors allowed us to detect 0.3–100 nM and amperometric aptasensors 10–1000 nM of thrombin.     

Raman and surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopic studies of the 15‐mer DNA thrombin‐binding aptamer

Aptamers are single‐stranded oligonucleotides that selectively bind to their target molecules owing to their ability to form secondary structures and shapes. The 15‐mer (5′‐GGTTGGTGTGGTTGG‐3′) DNA thrombin‐binding aptamer (TBA) binds to thrombin following the formation of a quadruplex structure via the Hoogsten‐type G–G interactions. In the present study, Raman and SERS spectra of TBA and thiolated TBA (used to facilitate covalent bonding to metal nanoparticle) in different conditions are investigated. The spectra of the two analogs exhibit vibrations, such as the C8N7 H2 deformation band at ∼1480 cm⁻¹ of the guanine tetrad, that are characteristic of the quadruplex structure in the presence of K⁺ ions or at low temperature. Interestingly, SERS spectra of the two analogs differ markedly from their respective normal Raman spectra, possibly due to changes in the conformation of the aptamer upon binding, as well as to the specific interaction of individual vibrational modes with the metal surface. In addition, the SERS spectra of the thiolated aptamer show significant changes with different concentrations, which may be due to different orientation of the molecule with respect to the metal surface. This study provides useful information for the development of label‐free aptamer‐based SERS sensors and assays. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Rapid Detection of AIB1 in Breast Cancer Cells Based on Aptamer-Functionalized Nanomotors

Herein, we report ultrasound-propelled graphene-oxide coated gold nanowire motors, functionalized with fluorescein-labeled DNA aptamers (FAM-AIB1-apt), for qualitative detection of overexpressed AIB1 oncoproteins in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. The movement of nanomotors under the ultrasound field facilitated intracellular uptake and resulted in a faster aptamer binding with the target protein and thus faster fluorescence recovery. The propulsion behavior of the aptamer functionalized nanomotors greatly enhanced the fluorescence intensity compared to static conditions. The new aptamer@nanomotor-based strategy offers considerable potential for further development of sensing methodologies towards diagnosis of breast cancer.     

Highly Specific,Single-step Cancer Cell Isolation with Multi-Aptamer-Mediated Proximity Ligation on Live Cell Membranes

A single-step method for isolation of specific cells based on multiple surface markers will have unique advantages because of its scalability, efficacy, and mildness. Herein, we developed multi-aptamer-mediated proximity ligation method on live cell membranes that leverages a multi-receptor co-recognition design for enhanced specificity, as well as a robust in situ signal amplification design for improved sensitivity of cell isolation. We demonstrated the promising efficacy of our method on differentiating tumor cell subtypes in both cell mixtures and clinical samples. Owing to its simple and fast operation with excellent cell isolation sensitivity and accuracy, this approach will have broad applications in biological science, biomedical engineering, and personalized medicine.     

共振瑞利散射法对普萘洛尔特效适配体系的手性分析

本文提出了对于手性药物普萘洛尔手性识别和手性分析的新方法。 该方法引用基于氧化石墨烯的指数富集配体系统进化筛选技术(GO-SELEX),经过10轮优化筛选出对心血管药物普萘洛尔有高度亲和力的特效适配体。 然后通过共振瑞利散射光谱法(RRS)对反应体系进行特效性检测,实验表明S-普萘洛尔和R-普萘洛尔有迥然不同的光谱差异,S-普萘洛尔与特效适配体结合后的RRS显著增强,而R-普萘洛尔与适配体结合后的RRS几乎没有变化。 据此可以对心血管药物手性普萘洛尔进行有效的手性识别。 在考察反应体系和实验条件的基础上,可对S-普萘洛尔进行实验检测,同时对外消旋体中的R-普萘洛尔进行计算分析。 实验对S-普萘洛尔的线性范围为5~275 nmol/L,检测限为0.5 nmol/L。 方法应用于外消旋药片的分析检测,结果令人满意。 实验表明,RRS检测特效适配体结合的手性靶标体系会彰显不同的光谱差异,从而可对手性对映体进行手性识别,尤其是可利用其光谱差异实现同时测定的手性分析,方法可在特殊情形下不经分离而同时测定手性对映体,具有推广应用价值。     

A Paper Sensor Printed with Multifunctional Bio/Nano Materials

We report a paper‐based aptasensor platform that uses two reaction zones and a connecting bridge along with printed multifunctional bio/nano materials to achieve molecular recognition and signal amplification. Upon addition of analyte to the first zone, a fluorescently labelled DNA or RNA aptamer is desorbed from printed graphene oxide, rapidly producing an initial fluorescence signal. The released aptamer then flows to the second zone where it reacts with printed reagents to initiate rolling circle amplification, generating DNA amplicons containing a peroxidase‐mimicking DNAzyme, which produces a colorimetric readout that can be read in an equipment‐free manner or with a smartphone. The sensor was demonstrated using an RNA aptamer for adenosine triphosphate (a bacterial marker) and a DNA aptamer for glutamate dehydrogenase (Clostridium difficile marker) with excellent sensitivity and specificity. These targets could be detected in spiked serum or feacal samples, demonstrating the potential for testing clinical samples.     

Effect of the immobilisation of DNA aptamers on the detection of thrombin by means of surface plasmon resonance

We report a multichannel surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor for detection of thrombin via DNA aptamers immobilized on the SPR sensor surface. A detailed investigation of the effect of the immobilisation method on the interaction between thrombin and DNA aptamers is presented. Three basic approaches to the immobilisation of aptamers on the surface of the SPR sensor are examined: (i) immobilisation based on chemisorption of aptamers modified with SH groups, (ii) immobilisation of biotin-tagged aptamers via previously immobilized avidin, neutravidin or streptavidin molecular linkers, and (iii) immobilisation employing dendrimers as a support layer for subsequent immobilisation of aptamers. A level of nonspecific binding of thrombin to immobilized human serum albumin (HSA) for each of the immobilisation methods is determined. Immobilisation of aptamers by means of the streptavidin–biotin system yields the best results both in terms of sensor specificity and sensitivity.     

基于裂开型核酸适体非标记荧光法检测ATP

基于裂开型核酸适体序列短、能有效降低因探针形成二级结构产生假阳性信号等优点,选择裂开型核酸适体作为特异性识别探针,核酸染料噻唑橙（TO）为信号探针,用单壁碳纳米管（SWCNTs）降低背景信号,利用“适配体-目标分子-适配体”的“三明治”夹心方式,建立了一种检测ATP的新方法。在pH 8.0的Tris-HCl缓冲溶液中,裂开成两段的ATP适体特异性识别ATP分子,生成稳定的“适配体-ATP-适配体”复合结构。单壁碳纳米管对该复合结构的吸附力较弱,因此该复合物游离在溶液中,TO与其结合而产生强荧光。当不存在ATP时,核酸适体探针以单链状态存在,可通过π-π共轭作用结合到SWCNTs表面,进而不能与TO结合,TO游离在溶液中荧光非常微弱。反应体系中ATP浓度越高,形成的“适配体-ATP-适配体”夹心识别结构复合物越多,检测到的荧光强度越大,据此实现对ATP的检测。在优化实验条件下,在最大荧光发射波长550 nm处,ATP的浓度在9.0×10-9～1.0×10-7 mol·L-1范围内与ΔF/F₀值成线性关系,r=0.996 4。该方法加标回收率为95.2%～104%,相对标准偏差（RSD）为1.02%～4.54%,检出限达到2.67×10-9 mol·L-1。该方法基于功能核酸对目标物亲合力强、选择识别性高的特点,对ATP的检测表现出很好的选择性,实验结果表明,当相对误差控制在±5%以内时,200倍的UTP,GTP和CTP均不干扰ATP的测定。另外,该方法操作简单、快速、无需标记、灵敏准确,可用于血清样品中ATP的测定,在快速检测小分子物质领域中有较好的应用前景。     

基于微悬臂梁生物传感器检测三磷酸腺苷

基于适配子构建了无标记检测三磷酸腺苷(ATP)的微悬臂梁生物传感器。 将ATP适配子修饰在微悬臂梁阵列中的传感悬臂镀金面上,用来识别ATP,而参比悬臂修饰巯基己醇(MCH)防止非特异性吸附。 ATP与其适配子发生特异性相互作用,使悬臂的上下两个表面产生应力差,导致传感悬臂产生偏转,扣除参比悬臂偏转后其偏转值与ATP的浓度在0.5~5 mmol/L范围内有良好的线性关系,相关系数为0.998,最低检出限为0.06 mmol/L。 该微悬臂梁生物传感器响应快速、操作简单,并且对ATP具有良好的特异性。