Our laboratory has been interested in developing simple biosensing devices or assays that use two classes of synthetic DNA molecules: DNA aptamers (DNA-based molecular receptors) and DNAzymes (catalytic DNAs). For example, we have successfully developed DNAzymes that are capable of tracking Escherichia coli (a common water/food-borne pathogen) and Clostridium difficle (a common cause for healthcare-associated infections in North America and Europe), and currently we are working on developing similar DNAzymes for other important human pathogens. Furthermore, given the fact that DNA is a highly programmable material based on predictable Watson–Crick base-pairing interactions, we have been interested in engineering molecular devices in which a key player is a DNA aptamer or ligand-responsive DNAzyme to achieve ultra-sensitive target detection. For example, we have developed several simple biosensing DNA devices/assays built with various linear and circular aptamer/DNAzyme-containing complexes that can be activated by a target of interest. In this presentation, I will discuss the progress we have made and challenges we have encountered from these efforts.

Biosensing applications incorporating synthetic DNA molecules with catalytic and binding properties

255th National Meeting (2018)

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