Engineering Light-Up Aptamers for the Detection of RNA Hairpins through Kissing Interaction

Noncompetitive Determination of Small Analytes by Sandwich-Type Lateral Flow Assay Based on an Aptamer Kissing Complex

Here, we present the proof-of-concept of a lateral flow assay (LFA) that is capable of detecting small-molecule targets in a noncompetitive manner by deploying a sandwich-type format based on the aptamer kissing complex (AKC) strategy. A fluorescently labeled hairpin aptamer served as the signaling agent, while a specific RNA hairpin grafted onto the strip served as the capture element. The hairpin aptamer switched from an unfolded to a folded form in the presence of the target, resulting in kissing interactions between the loops of the reporter and the capture agents. This design triggered a target-dependent fluorescent signal at the test line. The AKC-based LFA was developed for the detection of adenosine, achieving a detection limit in the micromolar range. The assay revealed the presence of the same analyte in urine. The method also proved effective with another small molecule (theophylline). We believe that the AKC-based LFA approach could overcome many of the shortcomings associated with conventional signal-off methods and competitive processes.

Aptamers' Potential to Fill Therapeutic and Diagnostic Gaps

More than 30 years ago, in 1990, three independent research groups published several papers demonstrating that genetics could be performed in vitro in the absence of living organisms or cells [...].

The International Society of RNA Nanotechnology and Nanomedicine (ISRNN): The Present and Future of the Burgeoning Field

The International Society of RNA Nanotechnology and Nanomedicine (ISRNN) hosts an annual meeting series focused on presenting the latest research achievements involving RNA-based therapeutics and strategies, aiming to expand their current biomedical applications while overcoming the remaining challenges of the burgeoning field of RNA nanotechnology. The most recent online meeting hosted a series of engaging talks and discussions from an international cohort of leading nanotechnologists that focused on RNA modifications and modulation, dynamic RNA structures, overcoming delivery limitations using a variety of innovative platforms and approaches, and addressing the newly explored potential for immunomodulation with programmable nucleic acid nanoparticles. In this Nano Focus, we summarize the main discussion points, conclusions, and future directions identified during this two-day webinar as well as more recent advances to highlight and to accelerate this exciting field.

[Preparation of dual-functional composite magnetic nanomaterials modified with different metals/aptamers and their performance in exosome enrichment]

外泌体作为一种细胞外囊泡,其内容物可以反映亲代细胞的重要信息,而自身也具有独特的结构,能够执行特征的生物学功能。基于外泌体的表面化学和生物学特征,制备了不同类型的金属/适配体(Apt)双功能复合磁性纳米材料,并将其应用于外泌体的富集纯化。将适配体和外泌体表面目标膜蛋白的特异性结合性能与以钛、锆为代表的金属氧化物和外泌体磷脂双层膜的特异性亲和作用结合,可极大地提高分离材料对外泌体的分离选择性和富集容量。分别以Fe₃O₄@Zr-MOFs、Fe₃O₄@Zr-Ti-MOFs和Fe₃O₄@TiO₂等金属有机框架(MOFs)/金属氧化物磁性纳米材料为基底,制备对应的双功能MOFs/金属氧化物-适配体复合磁性纳米材料Fe₃O₄@Zr-MOFs-Apt、Fe₃O₄@Zr-Ti-MOFs-Apt和Fe₃O₄@TiO₂-Apt,并进一步对不同材料的外泌体富集性能加以评价。以超速离心法提取的模型外泌体以及尿液为样品,对修饰相同质量适配体和不同含量金属氧化物的双功能材料的富集性能加以对比。将3种双功能磁性纳米材料应用于尿液外泌体的富集,得到的外泌体裂解后经质谱鉴定,分别得到233、343和832个外泌体蛋白。这一结果也表明双功能磁性纳米材料可以充分结合核酸适配体亲和的高选择性和金属氧化物的高富集容量优势,对于复杂生物样品中外泌体的快速、高效分离纯化具有潜在的应用价值,而针对材料制备和分离纯化方法的设计也为新型外泌体富集材料的设计提供了一条可行的新思路。

A malachite green light-up aptasensor for the detection of theophylline

Biosensors are of interest for the quantitative detection of small molecules (metabolites, drugs and contaminants for instance). To this end, fluorescence is a widely used technique that is easily associated to aptamers. Light-up aptamers constitute a particular class of oligonucleotides that, specifically induce fluorescence emission when binding to cognate fluorogenic ligands such as malachite green (MG). We engineered a dual aptasensor for theophylline (Th) based on the combination of switching hairpin aptamers specific for MG on the one hand and for Th on the other hand, hence their names: malaswitch (Msw) and theoswitch (Thsw). The two aptaswitches form a loop-loop or kissing Msw-Thsw complex only in the presence of theophylline, allowing binding of MG, subsequently generating a fluorescent signal. The combination of the best Msw and Thsw variants, MswG12 and Thsw19.1, results in a 20-fold fluorescence enhancement of MG at saturating theophylline concentration. This aptasensor discriminates between theophylline and its analogues caffeine and theobromine. Kissing aptaswitches derived from light-up aptamers constitute a novel sensing device.

Tandem reassembly of split luciferase-DNA chimeras for bioluminescent detection of attomolar circulating microRNAs using a smartphone

Detection of dysregulated circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) in human biofluids is a fundamental ability to determine tumor occurrence and metastasis in a minimally invasive fashion. However, the requirements for sophisticated instruments and professional personnel impede the translation of miRNA tests into routine clinical diagnostics, especially for resource-limited regions. Herein, we developed a DNA-guided bioluminescence strategy for the detection of circulating miRNAs. In this strategy, a pair of split luciferase-DNA chimeras was constructed and integrated into the miRNA-triggered rolling circle amplification (RCA) process. The tandem reassembly of split luciferase-DNA chimeras on the RCA products elicited a turn-on bioluminescence response with ultrahigh signal-to-background (S/B) ratio. This strategy enabled smartphone-based assays for different miRNAs with attomolar sensitivity and single-base specificity, as demonstrated here for miR-21. miR-148b, and cel-miR-39. Further application of our approach to the clinical serum samples realized identification of dysregulated miR-21 and miR-148b in the lung cancer patients, showing a satisfactory agreement with the control assays performed with quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Therefore, the developed method possesses the benefits of high performance and reliability, offering a potential tool for implementing miRNA-based diagnosis in point-of-care (POC) settings.