Catch-and-Release of Target Cells Using Aptamer-Conjugated Electroactive Zwitterionic Oligopeptide SAM

Abstract

Nucleic acid aptamers possess attractive features such as specific molecular recognition, high-affinity binding, and rapid acquisition and replication, which could be feasible components for separating specific cells from other cell types. This study demonstrates that aptamers conjugated to an oligopeptide self-assembled monolayer (SAM) can be used to selectively trap human hepatic cancer cells from cell mixtures containing normal human hepatocytes or human fibroblasts. Molecular dynamics calculations have been performed to understand how the configurations of the aptamers are related to the experimental results of selective cell capture. We further demonstrate that the captured hepatic cancer cells can be detached and collected along with electrochemical desorption of the oligopeptide SAM, and by repeating these catch-and-release processes, target cells can be enriched. This combination of capture with aptamers and detachment with electrochemical reactions is a promising tool in various research fields ranging from basic cancer research to tissue engineering applications.

Cell-repellent polyampholyte for conformal coating on microstructures

“…Prevelex was synthesized as previously reported 34 and characterized using GPC and FT-IR spectroscopy to determine the molecular weight and functional groups. Subsequently, prevelex was dissolved in an aqueous ethanol solution and coated onto silicon substrates.…”

“…Vapor deposition constitutes another approach for coating a surface with an ultrathin polymer layer. Surfaces modified with the aforementioned approaches considerably reduced protein adsorption and subsequent cell adhesion 34 , 35 . However, there are a few disadvantages to these approaches, such as complicated processes, use of toxic catalysts on the surface, and expensive equipment and materials.…”

Pseudo aptamer expands aptamer’s applications

“…The major interaction forces in the binding process are defined to be hydrogen bond and charge-charge interaction that are provided from native phosphodiester polymeric linker and the bases on loops. [27][28][29][30] The concept of aptamer ligands binding to proteins was reported early 1980s for the study of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and adenovirus. 31,32 In this investigation it had shown that the viruses have a high force of affinity and specificity for the encoding of small numbers of RNAs that bind to viruses or cellular proteins.…”