Non-invasive single cell aptasensing in live cells and animals

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Molecular Biology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Aptamers offer high specificity for molecular recognition.
• Fluorescent proteins provide easily detectable signals.
• Non-invasive methods are needed for drug distribution studies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a genetically encoded aptamer biosensor platform.
• To enable non-invasive measurement of drug distribution in cells and animals.
• To demonstrate the platform's versatility and applicability in a vertebrate model.

Main Methods:

• Combining aptamer molecular recognition with fluorescent protein detection.
• Generating six distinct encoded aptasensors.
• Integrating aptamer biosensors into zebrafish genomes for transgenic expression.
• Performing non-invasive imaging of drug biodistribution in whole animals.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity of aptasensors for target drugs.
• Showcased dose-dependent responses and drug uptake saturation in live cells.
• Successfully generated the first aptamer biosensor-expressing transgenic vertebrate line.
• Enabled longitudinal, non-invasive drug biodistribution imaging in zebrafish.

Conclusions:

• The genetically encoded aptamer biosensor platform offers a versatile tool for non-invasive drug monitoring.
• This platform facilitates pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic analyses in live cells and whole organisms.
• The technology is adaptable for detecting diverse molecules and can be expanded to other species.