Aptamer-Based Biosensing with a Cationic AIEgen

Abstract

Fabrication of low-cost biosensing platforms with high selectivity and sensitivity is important for constructing portable devices for personal health monitoring. Herein, we report a simple biosensing strategy based on the combination of a cationic AIEgen (aggregation-induced emission fluorogen), TPE-2+, with an aptamer for specific protein detection. The target protein can displace the dye molecules on the dye–aptamer complex, resulting in changes in the fluorescence signal. Selectivity towards different targets can be achieved by simply changing the aptamer sequence. The working mechanism is also investigated.

RACI Awards 2017–19

“…Here, the target protein displaces the dye molecules on the dye-aptamer complex, resulting in changes in a fluorescence signal. [8] Michelle Coote (Australian National University) received the Physical Chemistry Division Medal for 2019. In a paper with Nicholas S. Hill, she reports time-dependent DFT calculations on an acetophenone-type photoinitiator, in which three strategies for red-shifting are compared, viz.…”