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Liu Y, Wang N, Chan CW, Lu A, Yu Y, Zhang G, Ren K. The Application of Microfluidic Technologies in Aptamer Selection. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:730035. [PMID: 34604229 PMCID: PMC8484746 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.730035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Aptamers are sequences of single-strand oligonucleotides (DNA or RNA) with potential binding capability to specific target molecules, which are increasingly used as agents for analysis, diagnosis, and medical treatment. Aptamers are generated by a selection method named systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX). Numerous SELEX methods have been developed for aptamer selections. However, the conventional SELEX methods still suffer from high labor intensity, low operation efficiency, and low success rate. Thus, the applications of aptamer with desired properties are limited. With their advantages of low cost, high speed, and upgraded extent of automation, microfluidic technologies have become promising tools for rapid and high throughput aptamer selection. This paper reviews current progresses of such microfluidic systems for aptamer selection. Comparisons of selection performances with discussions on principles, structure, operations, as well as advantages and limitations of various microfluidic-based aptamer selection methods are provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Liu
- Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong, SAR China
- Guangdong-Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area International Research Platform for Aptamer-Based Translational Medicine and Drug Discovery, Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR China
| | - Nijia Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong, SAR China
- Guangdong-Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area International Research Platform for Aptamer-Based Translational Medicine and Drug Discovery, Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR China
| | - Chiu-Wing Chan
- Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong, SAR China
| | - Aiping Lu
- Guangdong-Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area International Research Platform for Aptamer-Based Translational Medicine and Drug Discovery, Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR China
- School of Chinese Medicine, Law Sau Fai Institute for Advancing Translational Medicine in Bone and Joint Diseases, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR China
| | - Yuanyuan Yu
- Guangdong-Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area International Research Platform for Aptamer-Based Translational Medicine and Drug Discovery, Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR China
- School of Chinese Medicine, Law Sau Fai Institute for Advancing Translational Medicine in Bone and Joint Diseases, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR China
| | - Ge Zhang
- Guangdong-Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area International Research Platform for Aptamer-Based Translational Medicine and Drug Discovery, Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR China
- School of Chinese Medicine, Law Sau Fai Institute for Advancing Translational Medicine in Bone and Joint Diseases, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR China
| | - Kangning Ren
- Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong, SAR China
- Guangdong-Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area International Research Platform for Aptamer-Based Translational Medicine and Drug Discovery, Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR China
- Institute of Research and Continuing Education, Hong Kong Baptist University, Shenzhen, China
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental and Biological Analysis, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong, SAR China
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Xue J, Chen F, Bai M, Cao X, Fu W, Zhang J, Zhao Y. Aptamer-Functionalized Microdevices for Bioanalysis. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2021; 13:9402-9411. [PMID: 33170621 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.0c16138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Aptamers have drawn great attention in the field of biological research and disease diagnosis for the remarkable advantages as recognition elements. They show unique superiority for facile selection, desirable thermal stability, flexible engineering, and low immunogenicity, complementing the use of conventional antibodies. Aptamer-functionalized microdevices offer promising properties for bioanalysis applications because of the compact sizes, minimal reaction volume, high throughput, operational feasibility, and controlled preciseness. In this review, we first introduce the innovative technologies in the selection of aptamers with microdevices and then highlight some advanced applications of aptamer-functionalized microdevices in bioanalysis field for diverse targets. Aptamer-functionalized microfluidic devices, microarrays, and paper-based and other interface-based microdevices are all bioanalysis platforms with huge potential in the near future. Finally, the major challenges of these microdevices applied in bioanalysis are discussed and future perspectives are also envisioned.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Xue
- Institute of Analytical Chemistry and Instrument for Life Science, The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xianning West Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710049, P. R. China
| | - Feng Chen
- Institute of Analytical Chemistry and Instrument for Life Science, The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xianning West Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710049, P. R. China
| | - Min Bai
- Institute of Analytical Chemistry and Instrument for Life Science, The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xianning West Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710049, P. R. China
| | - Xiaowen Cao
- Institute of Analytical Chemistry and Instrument for Life Science, The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xianning West Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710049, P. R. China
| | - Wenhao Fu
- Institute of Analytical Chemistry and Instrument for Life Science, The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xianning West Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710049, P. R. China
| | - Jin Zhang
- Institute of Analytical Chemistry and Instrument for Life Science, The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xianning West Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710049, P. R. China
| | - Yongxi Zhao
- Institute of Analytical Chemistry and Instrument for Life Science, The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xianning West Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710049, P. R. China
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Qin Y, Yang X, Zhang J, Cao X. Target capturing performance of microfluidic channel surface immobilized aptamers: the effects of spacer lengths. Biomed Microdevices 2019; 21:54. [PMID: 31203429 DOI: 10.1007/s10544-019-0403-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Aptamers have been widely used to recognize and capture their targets in sensitive detection applications, such as in detections of circulating tumor cells. In this study, we investigate the effects of different lengths of oligo-T spacers on surface tethered sgc8 aptamers and their target capturing performances. To achieve this, sgc8 aptamers were immobilized onto microfluidic channel surfaces via oligo-T spacers of different lengths, and the target capturing performances of these immobilized aptamers were studied using CCRF-CEM cells. We demonstrate that the capturing performances of the immobilized aptamers were significantly affected by steric hindrance. Our results also show that aptamers immobilized on surfaces via spacers of ten Ts demonstrated the best cell capturing performances; aptamers with either too short or too long oligo-T spacers showed reduced cell capturing performances. Therefore it can be concluded that spacer optimizations are critically important for surface tethered aptamers that are commonly used in microfluidic devices for sensitive target sensing and detections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yubo Qin
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Xiuying Yang
- Hainan Institute of Science and Technology, Haikou, 571126, China
| | - Jingchang Zhang
- Hainan Institute of Science and Technology, Haikou, 571126, China
| | - Xudong Cao
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 6N5, Canada. .,Ottawa-Carleton Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 6N5, Canada.
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Mazaafrianto DN, Maeki M, Ishida A, Tani H, Tokeshi M. Recent Microdevice-Based Aptamer Sensors. MICROMACHINES 2018; 9:E202. [PMID: 30424135 PMCID: PMC6187364 DOI: 10.3390/mi9050202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2018] [Revised: 04/19/2018] [Accepted: 04/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Since the systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) method was developed, aptamers have made significant contributions as bio-recognition sensors. Microdevice systems allow for low reagent consumption, high-throughput of samples, and disposability. Due to these advantages, there has been an increasing demand to develop microfluidic-based aptasensors for analytical technique applications. This review introduces the principal concepts of aptasensors and then presents some advanced applications of microdevice-based aptasensors on several platforms. Highly sensitive detection techniques, such as electrochemical and optical detection, have been integrated into lab-on-a-chip devices and researchers have moved towards the goal of establishing point-of-care diagnoses for target analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donny Nugraha Mazaafrianto
- Graduate School of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Hokkaido University, Kita 13 Nishi 8, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-8628, Japan.
| | - Masatoshi Maeki
- Division of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University, Kita 13 Nishi 8, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-8628, Japan.
| | - Akihiko Ishida
- Division of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University, Kita 13 Nishi 8, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-8628, Japan.
| | - Hirofumi Tani
- Division of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University, Kita 13 Nishi 8, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-8628, Japan.
| | - Manabu Tokeshi
- Division of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University, Kita 13 Nishi 8, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-8628, Japan.
- ImPACT Research Center for Advanced Nanobiodevices, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8603, Japan.
- Innovative Research Center for Preventive Medical Engineering, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan.
- Institute of Innovation for Future Society, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan.
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Olsen TR, Tapia-Alveal C, Yang KA, Zhang X, Pereira LJ, Farmakidis N, Pei R, Stojanovic MN, Lin Q. INTEGRATED MICROFLUIDIC SELEX USING FREE SOLUTION ELECTROKINETICS. JOURNAL OF THE ELECTROCHEMICAL SOCIETY 2017; 164:B3122-B3129. [PMID: 29170564 PMCID: PMC5697788 DOI: 10.1149/2.0191705jes] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) offers a powerful method to isolate affinity oligonucleotides known as aptamers, which can then be used in a wide range of applications from drug delivery to biosensing. However, conventional SELEX methods rely on labor intensive and time consuming benchtop operations. A simplified microfluidic approach is presented which allows integration of the affinity selection and amplification stages of SELEX for the isolation of target-binding oligonucleotides by combining bead-based biochemical reactions with free solution electrokinetic oligonucleotide transfer. Free solution electrokinetics allows coupling of affinity selection and amplification for closed loop oligonucleotide enrichment without the need for offline processes, flow handling components or gel components, while bead based selection and amplification allow efficient manipulation of reagents and reaction products thereby realizing on-chip loop closure and integration of the entire SELEX process. Thus the approach is capable of multi-round enrichment of oligonucleotides using simple transfer processes while maintaining a high level of device integration, as demonstrated by the isolation of an aptamer pool against a protein target (IgA) with significantly higher binding affinity than the starting library in approximately 4 hours of processing time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy R Olsen
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Kyung-Ae Yang
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Xin Zhang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | | | | | - Renjun Pei
- Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, China
| | | | - Qiao Lin
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
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Olsen T, Zhu J, Kim J, Pei R, Stojanovic MN, Lin Q. An Integrated Microfluidic SELEX Approach Using Combined Electrokinetic and Hydrodynamic Manipulation. SLAS Technol 2017; 22:63-72. [PMID: 27418370 PMCID: PMC5417355 DOI: 10.1177/2211068216659255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
This article presents a microfluidic approach for the integration of the process of aptamer selection via systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX). The approach employs bead-based biochemical reactions in which affinity-selected target-binding oligonucleotides are electrokinetically transferred for amplification, while the amplification product is transferred back for affinity selection via pressure-driven fluid flow. The hybrid approach simplifies the device design and operation procedures by reduced pressure-driven flow control requirements and avoids the potentially deleterious exposure of targets to electric fields prior to and during affinity selection. In addition, bead-based reactions are used to achieve the on-chip coupling of affinity selection and amplification of target-binding oligonucleotides, thereby realizing on-chip loop closure and integration of the entire SELEX process without requiring offline procedures. The microfluidic approach is thus capable of closed-loop, multiround aptamer enrichment as demonstrated by selection of DNA aptamers against the protein immunoglobulin E with high affinity ( KD = 12 nM) in a rapid manner (4 rounds in approximately 10 h).
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy Olsen
- 1 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jing Zhu
- 1 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jinho Kim
- 1 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Renjun Pei
- 2 Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, China
| | | | - Qiao Lin
- 1 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
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Cong H, Xu X, Yu B, Liu H, Yuan H. Fabrication of anti-protein-fouling poly(ethylene glycol) microfluidic chip electrophoresis by sandwich photolithography. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2016; 10:044106. [PMID: 27493702 PMCID: PMC4958108 DOI: 10.1063/1.4959239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2016] [Accepted: 07/11/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Microfluidic chip electrophoresis (MCE) is a powerful separation tool for biomacromolecule analysis. However, adsorption of biomacromolecules, particularly proteins onto microfluidic channels severely degrades the separation performance of MCE. In this paper, an anti-protein-fouling MCE was fabricated using a novel sandwich photolithography of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) prepolymers. Photopatterned microchannel with a minimum resolution of 10 μm was achieved. After equipped with a conventional online electrochemical detector, the device enabled baseline separation of bovine serum albumin, lysozyme (Lys), and cytochrome c (Cyt-c) in 53 s under a voltage of 200 V. Compared with a traditional polydimethylsiloxane MCE made by soft lithography, the PEG MCE made by the sandwich photolithography not only eliminated the need of a master mold and the additional modification process of the microchannel but also showed excellent anti-protein-fouling properties for protein separation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Xiaodan Xu
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University , Qingdao 266071, China
| | | | - Huwei Liu
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS), College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University , Beijing 100871, China
| | - Hua Yuan
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University , Qingdao 266071, China
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Kim J, Olsen TR, Zhu J, Hilton JP, Yang KA, Pei R, Stojanovic MN, Lin Q. Integrated Microfluidic Isolation of Aptamers Using Electrophoretic Oligonucleotide Manipulation. Sci Rep 2016; 6:26139. [PMID: 27217242 PMCID: PMC4877600 DOI: 10.1038/srep26139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2015] [Accepted: 04/20/2016] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
We present a microfluidic approach to integrated isolation of DNA aptamers via systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX). The approach employs a microbead-based protocol for the processes of affinity selection and amplification of target-binding oligonucleotides, and an electrophoretic DNA manipulation scheme for the coupling of these processes, which are required to occur in different buffers. This achieves the full microfluidic integration of SELEX, thereby enabling highly efficient isolation of aptamers in drastically reduced times and with minimized consumption of biological material. The approach as such also offers broad target applicability by allowing selection of aptamers with respect to targets that are either surface-immobilized or solution-borne, potentially allowing aptamers to be developed as readily available affinity reagents for a wide range of targets. We demonstrate the utility of this approach on two different procedures, respectively for isolating aptamers against a surface-immobilized protein (immunoglobulin E) and a solution-phase small molecule (bisboronic acid in the presence of glucose). In both cases aptamer candidates were isolated in three rounds of SELEX within a total process time of approximately 10 hours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinho Kim
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, United States
| | - Timothy R. Olsen
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, United States
| | - Jing Zhu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, United States
| | - John P. Hilton
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, United States
| | - Kyung-Ae Yang
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Medicine, Columbia University, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, United States
| | - Renjun Pei
- Division of Nanobiomedicine, Key Laboratory of Nano-Bio Interface, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China
| | - Milan N. Stojanovic
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Medicine, Columbia University, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, United States
| | - Qiao Lin
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, United States
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Cong H, Xu X, Yu B, Liu H, Yuan H. Fabrication of universal serial bus flash disk type microfluidic chip electrophoresis and application for protein analysis under ultra low voltage. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2016; 10:024107. [PMID: 27042249 PMCID: PMC4798985 DOI: 10.1063/1.4943915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2015] [Accepted: 02/29/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
A simple and effective universal serial bus (USB) flash disk type microfluidic chip electrophoresis (MCE) was developed by using poly(dimethylsiloxane) based soft lithography and dry film based printed circuit board etching techniques in this paper. The MCE had a microchannel diameter of 375 μm and an effective length of 25 mm. Equipped with a conventional online electrochemical detector, the device enabled effectively separation of bovine serum albumin, lysozyme, and cytochrome c in 80 s under the ultra low voltage from a computer USB interface. Compared with traditional capillary electrophoresis, the USB flash disk type MCE is not only portable and inexpensive but also fast with high separation efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Xiaodan Xu
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University , Qingdao 266071, China
| | | | - Huwei Liu
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS), College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University , Beijing 100871, China
| | - Hua Yuan
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University , Qingdao 266071, China
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