Sensitive Detection of Small-Molecule Targets Using Cooperative Binding Split Aptamers and Enzyme-Assisted Target Recycling

• NCJ Number: 253452
• Journal: Analytical Chemistry Volume: 90 Issue: 3 Dated: 2018 Pages: 1748-1758
• Author(s): Haixiang Yu; Juan Canoura; Bhargav Guntupalli; Obtin Alkhamis; Yi Xiao
• Date Published: 2018
• Length: 11 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2013-DN-BX-K032; 2015-R2-CX-0034
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical); Report (Study/Research); Report (Grant Sponsored); Program/Project Description
• Award: Aptamer-Based, Exonuclease-Amplified, Paper Device for Point of Collection Screening of Cocaine and Methamphetamine in Oral Fluid; Electrochemical and Colorimetric Aptamer-Based Sensors for Rapid On-site Screening of Synthetic Cannabinoids in Seized Substances and Biological samples.

Annotation

This article describes a general approach for the development of rapid and sensitive enzyme-assisted target recycling (EATR)-amplified small-molecule sensors based on cooperative binding split aptamers (CBSAs).

Abstract

Signal amplification via enzyme-assisted target recycling (EATR) offers a powerful means for improving the sensitivity of DNA detection assays, but it has proven challenging to employ EATR with aptamer-based assays for small-molecule detection due to insensitive target response of aptamers. The current article notes that CBSAs contain two target-binding domains and exhibit enhanced target response compared with single-domain split aptamers. The described project introduced a duplexed C3 spacer abasic site between the two binding domains, enabling EATR signal amplification through exonuclease III's apurinic endonuclease activity. As a demonstration, the project engineered a CBSA-based EATR-amplified fluorescence assay to detect dehydroisoandrosterone-3-sulfate. This assay achieved 100-fold enhanced target sensitivity relative to a non-EATR-based assay, with a detection limit of 1 ìM in 50 percent urine. Researchers further developed an instrument-free colorimetric assay employing EATR-mediated aggregation of CBSA-modified gold nanoparticles for the visual detection of low-micromolar concentrations of cocaine. On the basis of the generalizability of CBSA engineering and the robust performance of EATR in complex samples, the researchers believe that such assays should prove valuable for detecting small-molecule targets in diverse fields. (publisher abstract modified)