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  • Stabilizing structure-switching signaling RNA aptamers by entrapment in sol-gel derived materials for solid-phase assays.

Stabilizing structure-switching signaling RNA aptamers by entrapment in sol-gel derived materials for solid-phase assays.

Journal of the American Chemical Society (2012-06-26)
Carmen Carrasquilla, Pui Sai Lau, Yingfu Li, John D Brennan
ABSTRACT

Structure-switching, fluorescence-signaling DNA and RNA aptamers have been reported as highly versatile molecular recognition elements for biosensor development. While structure-switching DNA aptamers have been utilized for solid-phase sensing, equivalent RNA aptamers have yet to be successfully utilized in solid-phase sensors due to their lack of chemical stability and susceptibility to nuclease attack. In this study, we examined entrapment into sol-gel derived organic-inorganic composite materials as a platform for immobilization of structure-switching fluorescence-signaling RNA aptamer reporters, using both the synthetic theophylline- and naturally occurring thiamine pyrophosphate-binding RNA aptamers as test cases. Structure-switching versions of both aptamers were entrapped into a series of sol-gel derived composites, ranging from highly polar silica to hydrophobic methylsilsesquioxane-based materials, and the target-binding and signaling capabilities of these immobilized aptamers were assessed relative to solution. Both immobilized aptamers demonstrated sensitivity and selectivity similar to that of free aptamers when entrapped in a composite material derived from 40% (v/v) methyltrimethoxysilane/tetramethoxysilane. Importantly, this material also conferred protection from nuclease degradation and imparted long-term chemical stability to the RNA reporter systems. Given the versatility of sol-gel entrapment for development of biosensors, microarrays, bioaffinity columns, and other devices, this entrapment method should provide a useful platform for numerous solid-phase RNA aptamer-based devices.

MATERIALS
Product Number
Brand
Product Description

Sigma-Aldrich
Tetramethyl orthosilicate, ≥99%
Sigma-Aldrich
Tetramethyl orthosilicate, purum, ≥98.0% (GC)
Sigma-Aldrich
Tetramethyl orthosilicate, 98%