In-Solution Molecular Recognition Comparison of Aptamers against the Herbicide Atrazine

Atrazine is a common herbicide that is widely used to control weed growth in both agricultural and residential settings. It has been shown to act as an endocrine disruptor that affects aquatic organisms. Rapid and low-cost monitoring methods for atrazine is the first step to mitigate its widespread persistency. Aptamers are small synthetic oligonucleotides that can assume a 3D structure to act as the molecular recognition element for a specific target of interest. Two different atrazine binding aptamers (R12.23 Trunc. and R12.45 Trunc.) have been identified from the same library design but with fundamentally different in vitro selection methodologies. While the R12.23 Trunc. has been utilized in immobilized biosensing platforms, it is unclear if in-solution-based applications would be suitable for both atrazine binding aptamers. This study provides the first insight of comparative in-solution binding profiles of the two atrazine binding aptamers. Based on our results, this information will be useful for future biosensing platform development utilizing the two aptamers.