University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Ultrasensitive DNA aptasensors based on exponential amplification reaction

Brown, Darius

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Darius_Brown.pdf

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/46916

Description

Title
Ultrasensitive DNA aptasensors based on exponential amplification reaction
Author(s)
Brown, Darius
Issue Date
2014-01-16T18:26:15Z
Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)
Lu, Yi
Department of Study
Chemistry
Discipline
Chemistry
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
M.S.
Degree Level
Thesis
Date of Ingest
2014-01-16T18:26:15Z
Keyword(s)
  • Aptasensor
  • Cocaine
  • Thrombin
  • Exponential amplification reaction (EXPAR)
  • Magnetic Beads
  • Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
Abstract
This is a comprehensive project for the development of a general method to enhance the sensitivity of DNA aptasensors by coupling them with an isothermal DNA amplification technique known as exponential amplification reaction (EXPAR). The method involves two steps: (1) first, the target-induced structure-switching of DNA aptamers causes the release of trigger oligonucleotides from the aptamers immobilized on a surface; (2) then, the released trigger oligonucleotides are amplified by the EXPAR technique for ultrasensitive detection. It is shown that the detection limit of a cocaine aptasensor is improved from 5 micromolar in assays without amplification to 0.8-1micromolar when EXPAR is applied, providing a 5-fold enhancement. The flexibility in designing the sequences of the trigger oligonucleotides enables the method generally applicable to other aptasensor systems such as thrombin aptamers. By EXPAR, the method has also achieved 10-fold enhancement in sensitivity from 4nM to 400 pM for thrombin detection, in comparison with similar assays without EXPAR.
Graduation Semester
2013-12
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/46916
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 2013 Darius Z Brown

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