APTASENS · A new generation of AptaSensors
Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- Duration
- 2016-06-01 → 2019-05-31
- EU contribution
- €239,191
- Participants
- 2
- Scheme
- MSCA-IF-GF
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.
Results in brief
A new generation of AptaSensors
The project was focused on the design of different next generation libraries of biosensors that will yield ready-to-go analytical tools against any target in unprecedented speed and high affinity. Aptamers (DNA and peptides), a new generation of recognition elements were computationally selected and integrated into bioelectronics devices. The project objective to reduce by orders of magnitude the huge number of candidates to be tested using a combinatorial trial and error approach was carried out by rationalizing the strategy to design the aptamers. New virtual screening algorithms were developed for the generation of aptamers. The work was in line with the objectives of the project by providing small density array of electrodes modified with aptasensors having the sensitivity and reproducibility of the classical analytical methods. The conclusions of the action for WP1 were to provide databases with the main physicochemical properties of aptamers binding drugs, VOCs and Flaviviruses. In WP2 it was optimized the immobilization of the aptamers onto transducer surfaces along with demonstrating the utility of aptamers attached to dynamic and static nanoparticles and delivering the know-how for coupling functionalized aptamers with electrodes surfaces modified with gold nanoparticles. WP 3 tested different electrochemical techniques to have a label-free detection. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was widely studied because of the its unique property to explore the electrochemical surface without any label. Other electrochemical devices were considered like piezoelectric transducer suitable for gas sensors detection. WP 4 showed the analytical performances of the aptamers comparing them with classic analytical methods like optical and chromatographic methods. The main conclusions of the action were to produce small density arrays of aptasensors having the sensitivity and reproducibility of the classical analytical methods.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
The aim of this project is to design different next generation libraries of biosensors that will yield ready-to-go analytical tools against any target in unprecedented speed and high affinity. The project intends to focus on aptamers, a new generation of recognition elements that will be integrated into bioelectronics devices. The huge number of candidates to be tested using a combinatorial trial and error approach will be radically reduced by rationalizing the strategy to design the aptamers. A new virtual screening process will be used for the generation of aptamers by the help of modern molecular modelling tools. The design and binding of large database will be created and screened by adding or mutating molecule bricks (amino acids and DNA), minimizing experimental tests and therefore reducing the research costs.These sensor elements will be organized in medium to high density nucleic acid and peptide arrays with different transducing principles. In particular, we will design and produce an electrochemical sensor array platform based on screen printing technology together with suitable extraction- and pre-concentration procedures by coupling aptamers to nanoparticles.The analytical procedures produced will be tested using first standards and then real samples. The target molecules will be analytes related to health and safety control (Xenobiotics: e.g. PCB, pesticides. Mycotoxins: e.g. patulin, nivalenol, Antioxidants: e.g. resveratrol, luteolin).The proposal has strong focus on development of concrete evolutionary new biosensors for application to diagnostics, food, terrorism threat agents, environmental and new frontiers analysis such as bioanalysis in the space.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- UNIVERSIDAD COMPLUTENSE DE MADRID · MadridCoordinatorSpain
- THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA · OaklandUnited States
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union