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Updated: May 30, 2026
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A Method for Selecting Structure-switching Aptamers Applied to a Colorimetric Gold Nanoparticle Assay
Published on: February 28, 2015
Improving aptamer selection efficiency through volume dilution, magnetic concentration, and continuous washing in
Seung Soo Oh1, Kareem M Ahmad, Minseon Cho
1Materials Department, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California 93106, USA.
Analytical Chemistry
|July 22, 2011
Summary
Developing new DNA aptamers for high-affinity targets is faster and more economical using the VDC-MSELEX method. This technique combines volume dilution challenge with microfluidic separation for efficient aptamer selection.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Traditional aptamer selection is time-consuming and iterative, involving binding, separation, and amplification.
- Developing efficient, rapid, economical, and reproducible aptamer selection strategies is crucial for advancing molecular diagnostics and therapeutics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an efficient method for generating DNA aptamers with high affinity and slow off-rates.
- To introduce VDC-MSELEX (Volume Dilution Challenge-Microfluidic Separation for...), a novel aptamer selection methodology.
Main Methods:
- VDC-MSELEX integrates the volume dilution challenge with microfluidic separation for magnetic bead-based aptamer selection.
- This method employs stringent selection conditions, concentrating a small number of magnetic beads from a large volume into a microfluidic chamber for continuous washing.
Main Results:
- Three rounds of VDC-MSELEX selection using streptavidin (SA) as the target were performed.
- New DNA aptamer sequences with low nanomolar affinity that specifically bind to SA proteins were obtained.
Conclusions:
- VDC-MSELEX significantly improves aptamer selection efficiency and speed.
- This method offers a rapid, economical, and reproducible approach for generating high-quality DNA aptamers with desired binding characteristics.
