Aptamer Conformational Change Enables Serotonin Biosensing with Nanopipettes


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Date

2021-03-02

Publication Type

Journal Article

ETH Bibliography

yes

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Data

Abstract

We report artificial nanopores in the form of quartz nanopipettes with ca. 10 nm orifices functionalized with molecular recognition elements termed aptamers that reversibly recognize serotonin with high specificity and selectivity. Nanoscale confinement of ion fluxes, analyte-specific aptamer conformational changes, and related surface charge variations enable serotonin sensing. We demonstrate detection of physiologically relevant serotonin amounts in complex environments such as neurobasal media, in which neurons are cultured in vitro. In addition to sensing in physiologically relevant matrices with high sensitivity (picomolar detection limits), we interrogate the detection mechanism via complementary techniques such as quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Moreover, we provide a novel theoretical model for structure-switching aptamer-modified nanopipette systems that supports experimental findings. Validation of specific and selective small-molecule detection, in parallel with mechanistic investigations, demonstrates the potential of conformationally changing aptamer-modified nanopipettes as rapid, label-free, and translatable nanotools for diverse biological systems.

Publication status

published

Editor

Book title

Volume

93 (8)

Pages / Article No.

4033 - 4041

Publisher

American Chemical Society

Event

Edition / version

Methods

Software

Geographic location

Date collected

Date created

Subject

Organisational unit

03741 - Vörös, Janos / Vörös, Janos

Notes

Funding

881603 - Graphene Flagship Core Project 3 (EC)
174217 - Single Entities at High Magnification: Mapping, Measuring and Manipulating Nanoparticles (SNF)

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