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Project

Molecular design of 'Frozen Aptamers': Aptamers with enhanced properties by covalent and non-covalent stabilization using functionalized nucleotides: a combined modelling, NMR and electrochemistry approach.

The on-site and higly selective detection of cocaine and other important target analytes such as antibiotic residues in waste water remains a challenging area of research. In this project, we wish to better understand and eventually improve analytical detection systems that use short DNA sequences for selective recognition of molecules of interest – called aptamers – followed by the generation of electrical signals upon binding.To achieve this we will first study the fundamental influence of structure and flexibility of aptamers on binding and current generation. This will further be mapped using computer modelling, NMR spectroscopy and ITC measurements. After obtaining structural knowledge, we aim to chemically stabilize the high affinity aptamers by introduction of chemically modified building blocks in the aptamer nucleic acid sequence. The additional functional groups thus introduced in the aptamer should allow to enhance the stability of the folded ligand binding state of the aptamer. In this way, we hope to contribute to the development of more robust apasensors. This should ultimately and on the long term lead to improved, robust, simple and mobile devices allowing to be handled on-site in different fields of application (e.g. law enforcement agencies, medical care environment, food industry).
Date:1 Jan 2019 →  31 Dec 2022
Keywords:APTAMERS
Disciplines:Electrochemistry
Project type:Collaboration project