Fluorescence Aptasensor for sST2 Detection Using In Vitro Selected Aptamers.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Molecular Diagnostics
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Soluble suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (sST2) is a critical biomarker for heart failure (HF) diagnosis and prognosis.
• Conventional antibody-based detection methods for sST2 are time-consuming, costly, and complex.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a rapid, sensitive, and cost-effective fluorescence aptasensor for sST2 detection.
• To improve specificity and anti-interference performance in clinical settings.

Main Methods:

• Screening of high-affinity aptamers under clinically relevant conditions.
• Development of a fluorescence aptasensor using aptamers coupled with the CRISPR/Cas12a system.
• Introduction of a serum matrix during aptamer selection for enhanced specificity.

Main Results:

• Identification of three sST2-specific aptamers, with Apt-1 showing superior performance (Kd = 8.42 nM).
• The developed aptasensor achieved a broad linear detection range (5-120 ng/mL) and a low limit of detection (0.816 ng/mL).
• The sensor demonstrated high accuracy in human serum samples, with strong correlation to ELISA (R² = 0.9794) and exceptional resistance to interference.

Conclusions:

• The integrated aptasensor provides a robust, cost-effective, and rapid diagnostic tool for sST2 detection.
• This approach overcomes limitations of conventional antibody-based methods for heart failure biomarker analysis.