Aptamer-based biochips for selective protein or cell detection and quantitation which combine the recent biochip technology and the conventional staining methods, are presented. Using a model system comprising His-tagged proteins as the analyte and single-stranded RNA aptamers specific for His-tagged proteins as immobilized ligands on chips, we could demonstrate that aptamers were equivalent or superior to antibodies in terms of specificity and sensitivity, respectively. The sensor has the characteristics of good stability, reproducibility and reusability, with detection limit as low as 85 ng/mL His-tagged protein. Selective quantitation methods for HER2-positive breast cancer cells and PSMA-positive prostate cancer cells were also achieved based both on aptamers and the conventional nuclear staining method in a similar fashion. PSMA-targeted biochips, especially, were found to be able to detect their analytes (cells) as small as 103 cells. In conclusion, we could show the suitability of nucleic acid aptamers as low molecular weight receptors on biochips for sensitive and specific protein and cell detection and quantitation.

Selective and quantitative protein and cell detection based both on aptamers and conventional staining methods

245th National Meeting (2013)

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