1
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Zhang S, Qin Y, Yuan J, Wang Y, Yao J, Zhang M. Based on mutated aptamer-smartphone colorimetric detection of metronidazole in milk. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2024; 12:1444846. [PMID: 39157440 PMCID: PMC11327025 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2024.1444846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2024] [Accepted: 07/19/2024] [Indexed: 08/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Excessive residue of metronidazole (MNZ) in food is harmful to the human body. There is an urgent demand to develop a portable tool for MNZ detection on-site. In this study, fifteen aptamers were prepared through targeted base mutation. Apt1-3 with the highest enrichment was chosen for further study. Its affinity was characterized by molecular docking simulation, AuNPs colorimetric assay, graphene oxide (GO) fluorescence assay, and exonuclease assay. Kd was determined by GO fluorescence assay (Kd: 92.60 ± 25.59 nM). Its specificity was also characterized by an exonuclease assay. A novel aptasensor was constructed by using the newly identified aptamer combined with the smartphone dark box. The principle of color change is caused by the aggregation state of AuNPs. Smartphones act as reading instruments. The detection can be completed in just a few seconds without the aid of instruments, achieving a detection limit of 0.15 nmol/mL and a range of 6.7-44.4 nmol/mL (R 2 = 0.9810). Therefore, the constructed smartphone colorimetric sensor based on mutant aptamers has important applications in food detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sicheng Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China
| | - Yadi Qin
- School of Pharmacy, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China
| | - Jie Yuan
- School of Pharmacy, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China
- School of Pharmacy, Xinjiang Second Medical College, Karamay, China
| | - Yu Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China
| | - Jun Yao
- School of Pharmacy, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China
- Key Laboratory of Active Components and Drug Release Technology of Natural Medicines in Xinjiang, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China
| | - Minwei Zhang
- College Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, China
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2
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Canoura J, Nguyen T, Byrd C, Hill R, Liu Y, Xiao Y. Generation of High-Affinity Aptamers for Indazole Synthetic Cannabinoids. Anal Chem 2024; 96:11488-11497. [PMID: 38970811 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.4c02151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/08/2024]
Abstract
Synthetic cannabinoids are a widely abused class of dangerous psychoactive substances, especially among youths and young adults. Dozens of such drugs have been identified to date, and new ones continue to emerge. The ability to detect these drugs is important for interdiction efforts and the diagnosis of drug overdose, but existing analytical methods lack broad cross-reactivity to diverse members of this drug family. Here, we have utilized library-immobilized SELEX to generate DNA aptamers that can broadly recognize various members of the indazole-3-carboxamide synthetic cannabinoid family. Using two representatives of this family, AB-FUBINACA and 5F-AMB, we identify two aptamers FUB4 and AMB2F with respective dissociation constants (KDs) of 138 ± 15 and 411 ± 20 nM for their targets. These aptamers can recognize many indazole-based synthetic cannabinoids with high affinity and excellent specificity against natural cannabinoids as well as other structurally similar interferents like serotonin and tryptophan. We use these two aptamers to develop fluorescence strand-displacement sensors that successfully detect these synthetic cannabinoids at concentrations as low as 50 nM in human serum. The sensors can also detect up to 14 different drugs from this family─a major improvement over the six recognized by an existing commercial immunoassay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Canoura
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, 2620 Yarbrough Dr. ,Raleigh ,North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - Thinh Nguyen
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, 2620 Yarbrough Dr. ,Raleigh ,North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - Caleb Byrd
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, 2620 Yarbrough Dr. ,Raleigh ,North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - Ransom Hill
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, 2620 Yarbrough Dr. ,Raleigh ,North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - Yingzhu Liu
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, 2620 Yarbrough Dr. ,Raleigh ,North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - Yi Xiao
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, 2620 Yarbrough Dr. ,Raleigh ,North Carolina 27695, United States
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3
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Lu B, Wei L, Shi G, Du J. Nanotherapeutics for Alleviating Anesthesia-Associated Complications. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2308241. [PMID: 38342603 PMCID: PMC11022745 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202308241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/13/2024]
Abstract
Current management of anesthesia-associated complications falls short in terms of both efficacy and safety. Nanomaterials with versatile properties and unique nano-bio interactions hold substantial promise as therapeutics for addressing these complications. This review conducts a thorough examination of the existing nanotherapeutics and highlights the strategies for developing prospective nanomedicines to mitigate anesthetics-related toxicity. Initially, general, regional, and local anesthesia along with the commonly used anesthetics and related prevalent side effects are introduced. Furthermore, employing nanotechnology to prevent and alleviate the complications of anesthetics is systematically demonstrated from three aspects, that is, developing 1) safe nano-formulization for anesthetics; 2) nano-antidotes to sequester overdosed anesthetics and alter their pharmacokinetics; 3) nanomedicines with pharmacodynamic activities to treat anesthetics toxicity. Finally, the prospects and challenges facing the clinical translation of nanotherapeutics for anesthesia-related complications are discussed. This work provides a comprehensive roadmap for developing effective nanotherapeutics to prevent and mitigate anesthesia-associated toxicity, which can potentially revolutionize the management of anesthesia complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Lu
- Department of AnesthesiologyThird Hospital of Shanxi Medical UniversityShanxi Bethune HospitalShanxi Academy of Medical SciencesTongji Shanxi HospitalTaiyuan030032China
- Key Laboratory of Cellular Physiology at Shanxi Medical UniversityMinistry of EducationTaiyuanShanxi Province030001China
| | - Ling Wei
- Shanxi Bethune Hospital Center Surgery DepartmentShanxi Academy of Medical SciencesTongji Shanxi HospitalThird Hospital of Shanxi Medical UniversityTaiyuan030032China
| | - Gaoxiang Shi
- Department of AnesthesiologyThird Hospital of Shanxi Medical UniversityShanxi Bethune HospitalShanxi Academy of Medical SciencesTongji Shanxi HospitalTaiyuan030032China
| | - Jiangfeng Du
- Key Laboratory of Cellular Physiology at Shanxi Medical UniversityMinistry of EducationTaiyuanShanxi Province030001China
- Department of Medical ImagingShanxi Key Laboratory of Intelligent Imaging and NanomedicineFirst Hospital of Shanxi Medical UniversityTaiyuanShanxi Province030001China
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4
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Canoura J, Alkhamis O, Venzke M, Ly PT, Xiao Y. Developing Aptamer-Based Colorimetric Opioid Tests. JACS AU 2024; 4:1059-1072. [PMID: 38559723 PMCID: PMC10976566 DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.3c00801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Opioids collectively cause over 80,000 deaths in the United States annually. The ability to rapidly identify these compounds in seized drug samples on-site will be essential for curtailing trafficking and distribution. Chemical reagent-based tests are fast and simple but also notorious for giving false results due to poor specificity, whereas portable Raman spectrometers have excellent selectivity but often face interference challenges with impure drug samples. In this work, we develop on-site sensors for morphine and structurally related opioid compounds based on in vitro-selected oligonucleotide affinity reagents known as aptamers. We employ a parallel-and-serial selection strategy to isolate aptamers that recognize heroin, morphine, codeine, hydrocodone, and hydromorphone, along with a toggle-selection approach to isolate aptamers that bind oxycodone and oxymorphone. We then utilize a new high-throughput sequencing-based approach to examine aptamer growth patterns over the course of selection and a high-throughput exonuclease-based screening assay to identify optimal aptamer candidates. Finally, we use two high-performance aptamers with KD of ∼1 μM to develop colorimetric dye-displacement assays that can specifically detect opioids like heroin and oxycodone at concentrations as low as 0.5 μM with a linear range of 0-16 μM. Importantly, our assays can detect opioids in complex chemical matrices, including pharmaceutical tablets and drug mixtures; in contrast, the conventional Marquis test completely fails in this context. These aptamer-based colorimetric assays enable the naked-eye identification of specific opioids within seconds and will play an important role in combatting opioid abuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Canoura
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, 2620 Yarbrough Dr., Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - Obtin Alkhamis
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, 2620 Yarbrough Dr., Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - Matthew Venzke
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, 2620 Yarbrough Dr., Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - Phuong T. Ly
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, 2620 Yarbrough Dr., Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - Yi Xiao
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, 2620 Yarbrough Dr., Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
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5
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Ding Y, Gu L, Wang X, Zhang Z, Zhang H, Liu J. Affinity-Guided Coevolution of Aptamers for Guanine, Xanthine, Hypoxanthine, and Adenine. ACS Chem Biol 2024; 19:208-216. [PMID: 38194356 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.3c00660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
The simultaneous evolution of multiple aptamers can drastically increase the speed of aptamer discovery. Most previous studies used the same concentration for different targets, leading to the dominance of the libraries by one or a few aptamers and a low success rate. To foster the best aptamers to grow independently in the sequence space, it is important to (1) use low target concentrations close to their dissociation constants and (2) stop at an early round before any sequence starts to dominate. In this study, we demonstrate this affinity-guided selection concept using the capture-SELEX method to isolate aptamers for four important purines: guanine (5 μM), xanthine (50 μM), hypoxanthine (10 μM), and adenine (10 μM). The round 9 library was split, and in round 10, the four targets were individually used to elute the binding sequences. Using thioflavin T fluorescence spectroscopy and isothermal titration calorimetry, we confirmed highly selective aptamers for xanthine, guanine, and adenine. These aptamers have Kd values below 1 μM and around 100-fold selectivity against most competing analytes, and they compare favorably with existing RNA aptamers and riboswitches. A separate selection was performed using hypoxanthine alone, and no selective aptamer was achieved, even with negative selection, explaining the lack of its aptamer in our mixed selection. This affinity-guided multiplex SELEX study offers fundamental insights into aptamer selection and provides high-quality aptamers for three important purines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuzhe Ding
- Department of Chemistry, Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Lide Gu
- Department of Chemistry, Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Xiaoqin Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Ziyu Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Hanxiao Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Juewen Liu
- Department of Chemistry, Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
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6
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Canoura J, Liu Y, Alkhamis O, Xiao Y. Aptamer-Based Fentanyl Detection in Biological Fluids. Anal Chem 2023; 95:18258-18267. [PMID: 38033203 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c04104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
Fentanyl is a widely abused analgesic and anesthetic drug with a narrow therapeutic window that creates easy opportunities for overdose and death. Rapid, accurate, and sensitive fentanyl detection in biosamples is crucial for therapeutic drug monitoring and overdose diagnosis. Unfortunately, current methods are limited to either sophisticated laboratory-based tests or antibody-based immunoassays, which are prone to false results and are mainly used with urine samples. Here, we have utilized library-immobilized SELEX to isolate new aptamers─nucleic acid-based bioreceptors that are well-suited for biosensing─that can specifically bind fentanyl under physiological conditions. We isolated multiple aptamers with nanomolar affinity and excellent specificity against dozens of interferents and incorporated one of these into an electrochemical aptamer-based sensor that can rapidly detect fentanyl at clinically relevant concentrations in 50% diluted serum, urine, and saliva. Given the excellent performance of these sensors, we believe that they could serve as the basis for point-of-care devices for monitoring fentanyl during medical procedures and determining fentanyl overdose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Canoura
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, 2620 Yarbrough Drive, Raleigh, North Carolina , 27607, United States
| | - Yingzhu Liu
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, 2620 Yarbrough Drive, Raleigh, North Carolina , 27607, United States
| | - Obtin Alkhamis
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, 2620 Yarbrough Drive, Raleigh, North Carolina , 27607, United States
| | - Yi Xiao
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, 2620 Yarbrough Drive, Raleigh, North Carolina , 27607, United States
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7
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Alkhamis O, Canoura J, Willis C, Wang L, Perry J, Xiao Y. Comparison of Aptamer Signaling Mechanisms Reveals Disparities in Sensor Response and Strategies to Eliminate False Signals. J Am Chem Soc 2023. [PMID: 37217444 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c03640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Aptamers are nucleic acid-based affinity reagents that have been incorporated into a variety of molecular sensor formats. However, many aptamer sensors exhibit insufficient sensitivity and specificity for real-world applications, and although considerable effort has been dedicated to improving sensitivity, sensor specificity has remained largely neglected and understudied. In this work, we have developed a series of sensors using aptamers for the small-molecule drugs flunixin, fentanyl, and furanyl fentanyl and compare their performance─in particular, focusing on their specificity. Contrary to expectations, we observe that sensors using the same aptamer operating under the same physicochemical conditions produce divergent responses to interferents depending on their signal transduction mechanism. For instance, aptamer beacon sensors are susceptible to false-positives from interferents that weakly associate with DNA, while strand-displacement sensors suffer from false-negatives due to interferent-associated signal suppression when both the target and interferent are present. Biophysical analyses suggest that these effects arise from aptamer-interferent interactions that are either nonspecific or induce aptamer conformational changes that are distinct from those induced by true target-binding events. We also demonstrate strategies for improving the sensitivity and specificity of aptamer sensors with the development of a "hybrid beacon," wherein the incorporation of a complementary DNA competitor into an aptamer beacon selectively hinders interferent─but not target─binding and signaling, while simultaneously overcoming signal suppression by interferents. Our results highlight the need for systematic and thorough testing of aptamer sensor response and new aptamer selection methods that optimize specificity more effectively than traditional counter-SELEX.
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Affiliation(s)
- Obtin Alkhamis
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, 2620 Yarbrough Drive, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - Juan Canoura
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, 2620 Yarbrough Drive, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - Connor Willis
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, 2620 Yarbrough Drive, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - Linlin Wang
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, 2620 Yarbrough Drive, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - Jacob Perry
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, 2620 Yarbrough Drive, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - Yi Xiao
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, 2620 Yarbrough Drive, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
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8
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Canoura J, Liu Y, Perry J, Willis C, Xiao Y. Suite of Aptamer-Based Sensors for the Detection of Fentanyl and Its Analogues. ACS Sens 2023; 8:1901-1911. [PMID: 37095642 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.2c02463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2023]
Abstract
Fentanyl and its analogues are potent synthetic opioids that are commonly abused and are currently the number one cause of drug overdose death in the United States. The ability to detect fentanyl with simple, rapid, and low-cost tools is crucial for forensics, medical care, and public safety. Conventional on-site testing options for fentanyl detection─including chemical spot tests, lateral-flow immunoassays, and portable Raman spectrometers─each have their own unique flaws that limit their analytical utility. Here, we have developed a series of new aptamer-based assays and sensors that can detect fentanyl as well as several of its analogues in a reliable, accurate, rapid, and economic manner. These include colorimetric, fluorescent, and electrochemical sensors, which can detect and quantify minute quantities of fentanyl and many of its analogues with no response to other illicit drugs, cutting agents, or adulterants─even in interferent-ridden binary mixtures containing as little as 1% fentanyl. Given the high performance of these novel analytical tools, we foresee the potential for routine use by medical and law enforcement personnel as well as the general public to aid in rapid and accurate fentanyl identification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Canoura
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, 2620 Yarbrough Drive, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607, United States
| | - Yingzhu Liu
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, 2620 Yarbrough Drive, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607, United States
| | - Jacob Perry
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, 2620 Yarbrough Drive, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607, United States
| | - Connor Willis
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, 2620 Yarbrough Drive, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607, United States
| | - Yi Xiao
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, 2620 Yarbrough Drive, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607, United States
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