title: Optical sensors based on hybrid aptamer/conjugated polymer complexes.
abstract: Single-stranded DNA (aptamer) can specifically bind potassium ions or human alpha-thrombin. When binding takes place, the aptamer undergoes a conformational transition from an unfolded to a folded structure. This conformational change of the negatively charged oligonucleotide can be detected by adding a water-soluble, cationic polythiophene derivative, which transduces the new complex formation into an optical (colorimetric or fluorometric) signal without any labeling of the probe or of the target. This simple and rapid methodology has enabled the detection of human thrombin in the femtomole range. This new biophotonic tool can easily be applied to the detection of various other proteins as well as being useful in the high-throughput screening of new drugs.
authors.affiliation: Canada Research Chair in Electroactive and Photoactive Polymers, Centre de recherche en sciences et ingénierie des macromolécules, Département de chimie, Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada G1K 7P4.
authors.forename: Hoang-Anh
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leclerc
mesh_terms: D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D003124:Colorimetry / Q000379:methods; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded / Q000737:chemistry*; D005470:Fluorometry / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D055095:Optics and Photonics; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D013917:Thrombin / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded; D013917:Thrombin