Label-free optical biosensor for target detection based on simulation-assisted catalyzed hairpin assembly

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Molecular Biology
• Biosensor Technology

Background:

• Developing efficient, enzyme-free strategies for molecular detection is crucial for disease diagnostics.
• Existing methods often rely on complex nanomaterials or enzymes, limiting convenience and applicability.
• Aptamer affinity and catalyzed hairpin assembly offer a promising foundation for novel biosensing approaches.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel, non-label optical amplified strategy for sensitive thrombin detection.
• To utilize thermodynamic modeling for predicting nucleic acid interactions and optimizing the biosensor system.
• To validate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed biosensor in biological experiments.

Main Methods:

• Employing aptamers for specific thrombin binding and catalyzed hairpin assembly for signal amplification.
• Utilizing thermodynamic models to predict secondary structures, partition functions, and equilibrium concentrations of DNA complexes.
• Simulating thermodynamics of DNA strand interactions and toehold strand displacement-driven assembly.
• Conducting biological experiments to verify the performance of the thrombin biosensor.

Main Results:

• A novel non-label optical amplified strategy for thrombin detection was successfully developed.
• Thermodynamic modeling accurately predicted system behavior, guiding experimental optimization.
• The biosensor demonstrated feasibility and effectiveness in experimental settings for thrombin detection.
• The strategy avoids the need for enzymes or complex nanomaterials.

Conclusions:

• The developed biosensor offers an efficient and convenient approach for thrombin detection.
• This non-label optical amplified strategy holds significant potential for bioactive molecule detection and disease diagnosis.
• The integration of thermodynamic modeling enhances the rational design and optimization of nucleic acid-based biosensors.