A multi-loop aptamer-based fluorescent aptasensor for enhanced detection of 17β-estradiol

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Analytical Chemistry
• Molecular Diagnostics

Background:

• Accurate quantification of 17β-estradiol (E2) is vital for diagnosing and managing various female health conditions.
• Existing E2 detection methods may lack the required sensitivity or specificity for early disease diagnosis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel, highly sensitive, and specific aptasensor for detecting 17β-estradiol (E2).
• To evaluate the performance of the developed aptasensor in biological matrices like artificial urine and human serum.

Main Methods:

• Design and synthesis of repetitive-loop DNA aptamers with varying loop structures (O1-O5).
• Construction of an aptasensor utilizing the O5-aptamer and SYBR Green I (SGI) fluorescence assay.
• Optimization of assay conditions and validation using artificial urine, human serum, and clinical samples.

Main Results:

• The O5-aptasensor demonstrated high sensitivity with a linear detection range of 1-200 pM and a low limit of detection (LOD) of 1.34 pM.
• The aptasensor exhibited excellent specificity, distinguishing E2 from structurally similar compounds.
• Accurate E2 detection in spiked artificial urine and human serum samples (98.73%-109.00% recovery) and comparable results to hospital analysis in patient samples.

Conclusions:

• The developed O5-aptasensor is a sensitive and specific platform for clinical 17β-estradiol (E2) detection.
• This aptasensor offers a promising alternative to existing methods for E2 monitoring in healthcare settings.
• The aptasensor's ability to perform accurately in complex biological samples highlights its clinical potential.