Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Woohyun J. Moon, Yongjie Yang, Juewen Liu
Summary: Since 1994, deoxyribozymes or DNAzymes have been in vitro selected to catalyze various types of reactions, with metal ions playing a critical role in DNAzyme catalysis, especially Zn2+. Zn2+ has good biocompatibility and can be used for intracellular applications, binding to both the phosphate backbone and the nucleobases of DNA.
Review
Chemistry, Analytical
Bu-yue Zhang, Lei Shi, Xiao-ying Ma, Lu Liu, Yao Fu, Xiu-feng Zhang
Summary: This review focuses on functional nucleic acid-based biosensors for detecting Pb2+ from 2010 to 2020. The biosensors are categorized into colorimetric, fluorometric, and electrochemical biosensors based on different reported signals. The mechanism of action and detection effectiveness of each biosensor are explained, and the current situation and future research direction of nucleic acid biosensors for Pb2+ detection are summarized.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Haixiang Yu, Obtin Alkhamis, Juan Canoura, Yingzhu Liu, Yi Xiao
Summary: This review discusses the challenges and advances in isolating and characterizing small-molecule-binding DNA aptamers, including in vitro methodologies for isolation, strategies for optimal binding properties, techniques for characterizing aptamer-target binding and structure, and various small-molecule sensing platforms and detection applications based on aptamers.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Heinz Fabian Raber, Dennis Horst Kubiczek, Nicholas Bodenberger, Ann-Kathrin Kissmann, Deena D'souza, Hu Xing, Daniel Mayer, Pengfei Xu, Uwe Knippschild, Barbara Spellerberg, Tanja Weil, Frank Rosenau
Summary: This study highlights the development and characterization of DNA aptamers for fast labeling of human gut bacterium Akkermansia muciniphila and their potential impact on Alzheimer's disease. The results demonstrate the universal applicability of aptamers in modern microbiology techniques, including fluorimetry, confocal laser scanning microscopy, and flow cytometry. The findings suggest that these aptamers may have promising prospects for developing novel assays in clinical microbiology and electronic biosensors.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yibo Liu, Juewen Liu
Summary: In this study, a new DNA aptamer (UA-Mg-1) for uric acid detection was obtained through a salt-toggled selection method. The aptamer exhibited strong binding affinity and showed metal dependency only on Mg2+ ions. The UA-Mg-1 aptamer was then engineered into a fluorescent biosensor for uric acid detection.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Lide Gu, Jiajie Zheng, Yao Zhang, Deli Wang, Juewen Liu
Summary: In this study, two new aptamers for two important fluorophores, SRhB and fluorescein, were selected using the library immobilization method. The SRhB aptamer had a non-G-quadruplex structure and showed enhanced fluorescence upon binding to SRhB, while the fluorescein aptamer had a much lower affinity. This study provides insights into the effect of functional groups on aptamer binding and offers new aptamer options for the study of aptamer-based separation and dye detection.
CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Analytical
Yichen Zhao, Kayvan Yavari, Yihao Wang, Kunfu Pi, Philippe Van Cappellen, Juewen Liu
Summary: This review highlights the efforts to develop field-deployable water quality biosensors. Various types of biosensor devices, including microfluidic, lateral flow, and paper-based devices, as well as the conversion of glucometers for environmental analyte detection, are discussed. The review also covers DNA-functionalized hydrogels and their use in diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) devices. However, future work should focus on testing real environmental samples and comparing DNA-based sensors to standard analytical methods.
TRAC-TRENDS IN ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Analytical
Yichen Zhao, Kayvan Yavari, Juewen Liu
Summary: Over the past three decades, aptamer-based biosensors have been extensively studied. This article reviews recent papers that question the binding ability of popular aptamers and provides insights into the reasons for false positive results. It also highlights the importance of carefully designed controls and immobilized libraries for obtaining high-quality aptamers. The findings emphasize the need for validated aptamers in order to achieve meaningful results in biosensor design.
TRAC-TRENDS IN ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Shaobin Guo, Jingjing Lin, Lujie Lin, Wen Xu, Yan Guo, Zipeng Xu, Chunhua Lu, Xianai Shi, Lanlan Chen, Huanghao Yang
Summary: Researchers developed a new method called CIVT-SELEX to select DNA aptamers that can bind to small molecule ligands and undergo conformational changes. They applied this method to select a structure-switching aptamer of UDP, and demonstrated its use in constructing a UDP-responsive transcriptional switch and a biosensor for active glycosyltransferase screening.
SCIENCE CHINA-CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Electrochemistry
Veronika Subjakova, Veronika Oravczova, Marek Tatarko, Tibor Hianik
Summary: Bacterial pathogens, a major contaminant in food and drinking water, require fast and sensitive detection methods. While conventional detection methods are laborious, biosensors, especially immuno- and aptamer-based electrochemical sensors, offer a promising alternative. The review analyzes current trends in developing immuno- and aptasensors for various foodborne pathogens, presenting sensitivity, regeneration capability, and application potential in food and water samples.
ELECTROCHIMICA ACTA
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Haoyu Xiong, Rakesh N. Veedu, Sarah D. Diermeier
Summary: Oligonucleotide therapeutics show promising clinical outcomes in diseases such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy, familial amyloid neuropathies, and macular degeneration. Although no approved oligonucleotide drug exists for any type of cancer, results from preclinical studies and clinical trials are encouraging.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Wentao Xu, Wanchong He, Zaihui Du, Liye Zhu, Kunlun Huang, Yi Lu, Yunbo Luo
Summary: Functional nucleic acid (FNA) nanotechnology focuses on studying the interactions between FNAs and nanomaterials, aiming to create advanced biomaterials with unique properties for various applications in bioimaging, biosensing, biomedicine, and other important fields.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2021)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Tejabhiram Yadavalli, Ipsita Volety, Deepak Shukla
Summary: The use of short oligonucleotide or peptide molecules as target-specific aptamers for viral detection and treatment has gained attention for their high affinity and specificity to desired targets. Aptamers are replacing antibodies for virus detection and inhibiting viral replication, offering new targets for vaccine development against viruses.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
D. Nanda Kumar, Zina Baider, Daniel Elad, Shlomo E. Blum, Giorgi Shtenberg
Summary: This paper presents a reflective-based method for detecting and estimating the activity of BoNT/C. The method utilizes two adjacent porous Si Fabry-Pe 'rot interferometers to quantify minute BoNT/C concentrations and assess their endopeptidase activity. The optical assay is highly sensitive, and the specificity and selectivity of the method are validated. In real-life scenarios, the method demonstrates excellent compliance for complex media analysis.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sandeep Kumar, Poonam Singh, Sanjay Kumar Verma
Summary: In this study, a novel aptamer candidate for specific and sensitive arsenic detection was identified using Graphene Oxide-SELEX (GO-SELEX). A QCM-based biosensing platform was designed for target-triggered release of aptamer, and the sensor exhibited excellent selectivity.
