Basic research concept diagram. Provided by POSTECH/Proteosomes they protect the internally loaded aptasensor from harmful proteins and allow only target molecules to pass through in a size-selective manner, enabling rapid and effective detection of target substances without pretreatment of biological samples.
An aptamer is a nucleic acid substance that binds to a specific protein or molecule and can be used to find target molecules without a complicated analysis process. This material is attracting attention in the field of diagnostics for various diseases, but has especially great potential as a cancer sensor. This is because over 90% of cancers can be cured if diagnosed early. However, this material is easily broken down or neutralized by nucleic acid decomposition enzymes or charged proteins contained in biological samples such as blood or saliva, so there is the limitation that it is difficult to use it directly in clinical samples without a process to remove these materials . However, the POSTECH research group recently solved this problem by using a capsule shield.
Professor Seungsoo Oh from the POSTECH Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Professor Seongwook Woo and Jinmin Kim from the Integrated Course have developed an aptamer sensor system that can rapidly detect target molecules in the body directly from biological samples without complex preprocessing. This study was recently published in “Biosensors and Bioelectronics”, an international academic journal in the field of biosensors.
In this study, the research team created spherical microcapsules called proteinsomes based on the self-assembly phenomenon of amphiphilic substances in which proteins and polymers are bonded. This capsule is designed to be equipped with an “aptasensor” based on a structurally modified aptamer that reacts with a target molecule and produces an immediate fluorescent signal, and its surface is made of a size-selective semipermeable membrane, so it can prevent large harmful proteins from entering the interior. By effectively blocking the movement, only small target molecules could selectively pass inside. As a result, the target detection performance of the aptasensor was preserved in an optimal state and was effective even without pretreatment on target molecules such as estradiol, an important female hormone in vivo and related to the development of uterine cancer, dopamine , a neurotransmitter, and cocaine, a narcotic. It was demonstrated that accurate and rapid detection in the samples was possible.
The capsule developed by the research team was so effective in protecting harmful proteins that it was confirmed that the aptasensor inside the capsule maintains its excellent properties without being damaged at all for 18 hours even in an acid enzymatic solution nucleic acid at high concentration up to 300,000 times the normal serum level. Furthermore, taking advantage of the fact that each capsule acts as an independent “reaction vessel”, it mixes solutions in capsules equipped with aptasensors for different target substances to independently detect multiple target molecules at the same time and monitor concentration changes for each. it has been proven that monitoring is possible.
Professor Seungsoo Oh, who led this research, said: “By combining sample separation and target detection, we have developed the first new in-situ diagnostic biosensor technology for small molecules that can be used directly in biological samples such as serum”. “From early disease diagnosis to personalized treatment. “It is expected to become a platform that can revolutionize the medical field.” Furthermore, Jinmin Kim from the integration process said: “The proteasome-based sensing platform can be expanded as a sensor for various target molecules by replacing the internal material.”
Summary of key findings. Provided by = POSTECH/ (A) If proteinosomes are not used the aptasensor decomposes completely in serum, but if protected with proteinosome capsules it does not decompose even after a long period of time. (B) Each proteinosome acts as a single “reaction vessel,” enabling simultaneous and independent detection of multiple target substances by mixing proteinosomes equipped with different aptasensors.
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