Aptamer-based electrochemical biosensor for interferon gamma detection

An electrochemical aptasensor for chiral peptide detection using layer-by-layer assembly of polyelectrolyte-methylene blue/polyelectrolyte-graphene multilayer

Here we demonstrate for the first time that by physically adsorbing aptamer onto conductive film assembled via alternate adsorption of graphene/polyelectrolyte and methylene blue/polyelectrolyte, a label-free electrochemical aptasensor with high sensitivity and selectivity for peptide detection is constructed. Graphene multilayer derived from layer-by-layer assembly has played significant roles in this sensing strategy: allowing accumulation of methylene blue, facilitating electron transfer and providing much more adsorption site. As compared to previous electrochemical aptasensors, the current sensor based on graphene multilayer alternated with electroactive molecule layer offers extremely high capability for sensitive detection of target without interference of environmental surrounding. This electroactive probe-confined graphene multilayer confers great flexibility to combine with differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) together. In the presence of target d entiomer of arginine vasopressin (D-VP), the binding of peptide to aptamer block the electron transfer process of MB, leading to decreased current peak of DPV. By this way, this electrochemical aptasensor based on electroactive molecule-intercalated graphene multilayer provide highly sensitive and specific detection of D-VP with the lowest detectable concentration of 1 ng mL(-1) and a wide detection range from 1 to 265 ng mL(-1).

Micropatterned aptasensors for continuous monitoring of cytokine release from human leukocytes

We report the development of a microdevice for detecting local interferon gamma (IFN-γ) release from primary human leukocytes in real time. Our microdevice makes use of miniature aptamer-modified electrodes integrated with microfluidics to monitor cellular production of IFN-γ. The aptamer species consists of a DNA hairpin molecule with thiol groups on the 3'-end for self-assembly onto Au electrodes. A redox reporter is covalently attached at the 5'-end for electrochemical sensing. This aptasensor has excellent sensitivity for IFN-γ (<60 pM detection limit) and responds to the target analyte in real time without additional washing or labeling steps. Aptamer-functionalized electrode arrays are fabricated on glass slides containing poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) hydrogel patterns designed to expose glass regions adjacent to electrodes while protecting the remainder of the surface from nonspecific adsorption. The micropatterned substrates are integrated with PDMS microfluidic channels and incubated with T-cell-specific antibodies (Ab) (anti-CD4). Upon injection of blood, leukocytes are bound to Ab-modified glass regions in proximity to aptasensors. Cytokine release from captured cells is triggered by mitogenic activation and detected at the aptamer-modified electrodes using square wave voltammetry (SWV). The IFN-γ signal is monitored in real time with signal appearing as early as 15 min poststimulation from as few as 90 T cells. The observed IFN-γ release profiles are used to calculate an initial IFN-γ production rate of 0.0079 pg cell(-1) h(-1) upon activation. The work described here represents an important step toward development of aptasensors for immune cell analysis and blood-based diagnostics.

Thiolated dendrimers as multi-point binding headgroups for DNA immobilization on gold

The synthesis of multithiolated DNA molecules that can be used to produce self-assembled monolayers of single-stranded DNA oligonucleotides on gold substrates is described. Generation 3 polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers were conjugated to DNA oligomers and functionalized with ~30 protected thiol groups. The protected thiol groups-thioacetate groups-allowed the dendrimer-DNA constructs to be stored in a buffer solution for at least 2 months before deprotection without any observable decrease in their ability to assemble into functional layers. The monolayers formed using these multithiolated DNA probe strands demonstrate target capture efficiencies comparable to those of analogous monolayers assembled with DNA functionalized with single thiol groups. A functional advantage of using dendrimer headgroups is the resistance to probe strand loss in prolonged exposure to buffer solutions at a high temperature (95 °C).

Electrochemical Aptamer-Based Biosensors: Recent Advances and Perspectives

This paper reviews the advancements of a wide range of electrochemical aptamer-based biosensors, electrochemical aptasensors, for target analytes monitoring. Methods for immobilizing aptamers onto an electrode surface are discussed. Aptasensors are presented according to their detection strategies. Many of these are simply electrochemical, aptamer-based equivalents of traditional immunochemical approaches, sandwich and competition assays employing electroactive signaling moieties. Others, exploiting the unusual physical properties of aptamers, are signal-on (positive readout signal) and signal-off (negative readout signal) aptasensors based on target binding-induced conformational change of aptamers. Aptamer label-free devices are also discussed.

An aptamer-based chromatographic strip assay for sensitive toxin semi-quantitative detection

An aptamer-based chromatographic strip assay method for rapid toxin detection was developed. The aptamer-based strip assay was based on the competition for the aptamer between ochratoxin A and DNA probes. The sensing results indicated that the sensitivity of the aptamer-based strip was better than that of conventional antibody-based strips. The visual limit of detection of the strip for qualitative detection was 1 ng/mL while the LOD for semi-quantitative detection could down to 0.18 ng/mL by using scanning reader. The recoveries of test samples were from 96% to 110%. All detections could be achieved in less than 10 min, indicating that the aptamer-based strip could be a potential useful tool for rapid on-site detections.

Micropatterning of Aptamer Beacons to Create Cytokine-Sensing Surfaces

Aptamer beacons are DNA or RNA probes that bind proteins or small molecules of interest and emit signal directly upon interaction with the target analyte. This paper describes micropatterning of aptamer beacons for detection of IFN-γ—an important inflammatory cytokine. The beacon consisted of a fluorophore-labeled aptamer strand hybridized with a shorter, quencher-carrying complementary strand. Cytokine molecules were expected to displace quenching strands of the beacon, disrupting FRET effect and resulting in fluorescence signal. The glass substrate was first micropatterned with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) hydrogel microwells (35 μm diameter individual wells) so as to define sites for attachment of beacon molecules. PEG microwell arrays were then incubated with avidin followed by biotin-aptamer-fluorophore constructs. Subsequent incubation with quencher-carrying complementary strands resulted in formation of DNA duplex and caused quenching of fluorescence due to FRET effect. When exposed to IFN-γ, microwells changed fluorescence from low (quencher hybridized with fluorophore-carrying strand) to high (quenching strand displaced by cytokine molecules). The fluorescence signal was confined to microwells, was changing in real-time and was dependent on the concentration of IFN-γ. In the future, we plan to co-localize aptamer beacons and cells on micropatterned surfaces in order to monitor in real-time cytokine secretion from immune cells in microwells.