The remarkable structural and functional features of DNA have made it a powerful and versatile building block for the preparation of self-assembled materials and nanodevices. In our research lab, we are interested in DNA technology driven by the molecular recognition properties of “aptamers”, synthetic DNA with the ability to bind tightly and specifically to a molecular target. We are currently applying aptamer technology to biosensing and controlled release applications, as well as developing aptamers for biologically-relevant target molecules. Our research group is particularly interested in designing systems whereby the detection of a target molecule will lead to changes in a material and concomitant release of a payload. As aptamers are negatively charged biopolymers, we are exploring the potential for their incorporation into polyelectrolyte films as molecular recognition elements. We have successfully incorporated a DNA aptamer into a multilayered polyelectrolyte thin film.[1] We have also incorporated aptamers into the walls of hollow polyelectrolyte microcapsules in order to gauge the effect of aptamer-target binding on the permeability of the capsule walls.[2] In microcapsules containing the sulforhodamine B aptamer within the multilayers, the diffusion coefficient for the dye was nearly an order of magnitude greater than in microcapsules containing either a random DNA oligonucleotide, or those comprised of synthetic polyelectrolytes alone. Our work suggests that this permeability effect is general and not limited to the aptamer’s cognate target. More recently, we have developed stable polyelectrolyte microcapsules containing encapsulated aptamers that serve as a scaffold to support the surrounding capsule walls. [3] Upon target-binding, the walls collapse leading to a one-time burst release of the cargo. This presentation will highlight our latest work in this area as well as in applying aptamers as receptors for both biosensors and in vivo use. Work in the selection of aptamers for important small molecule and viral targets will also be described. [1] Sultan, Y.; Walsh, R.; Monreal, C.; DeRosa, M. C. Biomacromolecules 2009, 10, 1149-1154. [2] Sultan, Y. and DeRosa, M. C. Small 2011, 7, 1219-1226. [3] Zhang, X.; Chabot, D; Sultan, Y.; Monreal, C.; DeRosa, M.C. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2013, 5, 5500-5507.

Aptamer technology for biosensing, therapeutics, and targeted release

249th National Meeting (2015)

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