Sensitive chemiluminescence aptasensor based on exonuclease-assisted recycling amplification

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Analytical Chemistry
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Chemiluminescence (CL) assays are valuable for sensitive detection.
• Aptasensors offer high specificity but can be limited by sensitivity.
• Target recycling strategies can amplify detection signals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a sensitive and selective chemiluminescence aptasensor for adenosine determination.
• To utilize an exonuclease-assisted target recycling mechanism for signal amplification.
• To establish a novel CL strategy for potential environmental and biomedical applications.

Main Methods:

• Developed an aptasensor based on target-induced aptamer release from capture probes.
• Immobilized capture probes on a 96-well plate surface.
• Utilized gold nanoparticle-functionalized reporter sequences for CL signal generation.
• Incorporated exonuclease III for stepwise removal of mononucleotides and adenosine liberation.

Main Results:

• Achieved sensitive and selective chemiluminescence determination of adenosine.
• Demonstrated target-induced aptamer release and subsequent decreased hybridization.
• Exonuclease III activity led to amplified aptamer release and enhanced sensitivity.
• Established a wide working range and a low limit of detection (LOD) of 0.5 nM for adenosine.

Conclusions:

• The exonuclease-assisted aptamer-based target recycling strategy significantly enhances CL detection sensitivity for adenosine.
• This novel CL strategy provides a robust platform for detecting various targets with potential applications in environmental and biomedical fields.
• The developed aptasensor demonstrates high sensitivity and selectivity, making it a promising tool for biomolecular detection.