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Design and Development of Aptamer–Gold Nanoparticle Based Colorimetric Assays for In-the-field Applications
Published on: June 23, 2016
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G-Quadruplex-Functionalized Gold Nanoparticles for a Real-Time Biomolecule Sensor with On-Demand Tunable Properties
Surachada Chuaychob1,2, Masahiro Fujita2, Mizuo Maeda1,2
1Department of Advanced Materials Science, School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwanoha 5-1-5, Kashiwa-shi, Chiba 277-8561, Japan.
Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
|April 15, 2022
Summary
A novel gold nanoparticle sensor functionalized with G-quadruplex DNA detects thrombin. This aptamer-based sensor offers high specificity and tunable sensitivity for biomolecule detection.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Nanotechnology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are widely used in biosensing.
- G-quadruplex (G4) DNA structures offer unique recognition capabilities.
- Thrombin is a critical biomarker in various physiological and pathological processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel sensing platform for thrombin detection.
- To utilize G-quadruplex DNA-functionalized gold nanoparticles for enhanced biosensing.
- To investigate the mechanism of nanoparticle aggregation induced by thrombin binding.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of G-quadruplex DNA-functionalized gold nanoparticles.
- Immobilization of thrombin-binding aptamer (TBA) on AuNPs.
- Induction of nanoparticle aggregation upon thrombin binding and detection via color change.
- Analysis of aggregation mechanism and sensor performance.
Main Results:
- The sensor detected thrombin through a color change from red to purple-blue.
- Aggregation was attributed to reduced steric repulsion from G4 DNA mobility, not bridging.
- The sensor exhibited high specificity for thrombin against other serum proteins.
- Achieved a linear detection range of 10.0-40.0 nM with limits of detection and quantification at 3.6 and 10.7 nM, respectively.
Conclusions:
- G-quadruplex DNA-functionalized AuNPs provide a sensitive and specific platform for thrombin detection.
- The sensor's performance can be tuned for on-demand applications.
- This approach offers a promising method for rapid and reliable thrombin quantification.
