Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 9, 2025

09:33
Phthalic Acid Ester-Binding DNA Aptamer Selection, Characterization, and Application to an Electrochemical Aptasensor
Published on: March 21, 2018
10.2K
An electrochemical aptasensor for ATP based on a configuration-switchable tetrahedral DNA nanostructure
Cheng Jing1, Haohan Chen1, Rongfeng Cai1
1The Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China. zhounandi@jiangnan.edu.cn.
Analytical Methods : Advancing Methods and Applications
|September 15, 2020
Summary
A new electrochemical aptasensor uses a DNA nanostructure that changes shape to detect adenosine triphosphate (ATP). This configuration-switchable tetrahedral DNA nanostructure (TDN) enables sensitive ATP detection with high specificity.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Nanotechnology
- Electrochemistry
Background:
- Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is crucial for cellular functions.
- Developing sensitive and specific ATP detection methods is important for biological research and diagnostics.
- Existing methods may lack sensitivity or specificity for real-world applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel electrochemical aptasensor for sensitive and specific ATP detection.
- To utilize a configuration-switchable tetrahedral DNA nanostructure (TDN) for enhanced sensing capabilities.
- To investigate the formation of a G-quadruplex structure triggered by ATP binding for signal generation.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a tetrahedral DNA nanostructure (TDN) using self-assembled single-stranded DNA (ssDNA).
- Immobilization of the TDN onto a gold electrode surface.
- Design of an ATP aptamer-embedded sequence within the TDN for ATP recognition.
- Exploitation of ATP-induced conformational change in TDN leading to G-quadruplex formation.
- Quantification of ATP using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) after hemin addition.
Main Results:
- The aptasensor demonstrated a dynamic response range from 0.1 nM to 1 μM for ATP detection.
- A low detection limit of 50 pM was achieved.
- The sensor exhibited high specificity and practicality in real sample analysis.
- ATP binding induced a conformational switch in the TDN, facilitating G-quadruplex formation and signal generation.
Conclusions:
- A novel and effective electrochemical aptasensor for ATP detection was successfully developed.
- The configuration-switchable TDN strategy offers a promising platform for sensitive biosensing.
- The aptasensor shows potential for practical applications in biological and clinical settings.

