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Colorimetric adenosine aptasensor based on DNA cycling amplification and salt-induced aggregation of gold nanoparticles

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Abstract

An aptamer based assay is described for the colorimetric detection of adenosine. The presence of adenosine triggers the deformation of hairpin DNA oligonucleotide (HP1) containing adenosine aptamer and then hybridizes another unlabeled hairpin DNA oligonucleotide (HP2). This leads to the formation of a double strand with a blunt 3′ terminal. After exonuclease III (Exo III)-assisted degradation, the guanine-rich strand (GRS) is released from HP2. Hence, the adenosine-HP1 complex is released to the solution where it can hybridize another HP2 and initiate many cycles of the digestion reaction with the assistance of Exo III. This leads to the generation of a large number of GRS strands after multiple cycles. The GRS stabilize the red AuNPs against aggregation in the presence of potassium ions. If, however, GRS forms a G-quadruplex, it loses its ability to protect gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) from salt-induced AuNP aggregation. Therefore, the color of the solution changes from red to blue which can be visually observed. This colorimetric assay has a 0.13 nM detection limit and a wide linear range that extends from 5 nM to 1 μM.

Schematic presentation of a colorimetric aptamer biosensor for adenosine detection based on DNA cycling amplification and salt-induced aggregation of gold nanoparticles.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by Scientific Research Project of Beijing Educational Committee (Grant No. KM201710028009), Youth Innovative Research Team of Capital Normal University, and Capacity Building for Sci-Tech Innovation-Fundamental Scientific Research Funds (025185305000/195).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Capital Normal University, Beijing, 100048, China

    Caiyun Kong & Zhengbo Chen

  2. College of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266590, China

    Linna Gao

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  1. Caiyun Kong
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  2. Linna Gao
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Correspondence to Zhengbo Chen.

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Kong, C., Gao, L. & Chen, Z. Colorimetric adenosine aptasensor based on DNA cycling amplification and salt-induced aggregation of gold nanoparticles. Microchim Acta 185, 488 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-018-3031-z

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