Researchers have come up with a new approach that allows biosensors to be easily customized for different uses.
LMU researchers have devised a method that allows biosensors to be easily customized for diverse applications.
Biosensors are crucial in medical research and diagnostics; however, they typically require unique development for each specific application. A research team led by LMU chemist Philip Tinnefeld has introduced a flexible, modular approach for creating sensors that can be easily modified to detect different target molecules and concentration levels. According to their findings published in the journal Nature Nanotechnology, this new modular sensor could greatly speed up the creation of innovative diagnostic tools for research purposes.
The sensor utilizes a DNA origami framework made up of two arms linked by a molecular “hinge.” Each arm features a fluorescent dye tag, and the distance between these tags is measured using fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). When closed, the arms are positioned parallel to each other; as the structure opens, the arms extend to create an angle of up to 90°. “This significant change in shape results in a marked alteration in the fluorescence signal,” clarifies Viktorija Glembockyte, the senior author of the study. “Consequently, the signals can be detected with much greater clarity and accuracy than in systems that rely on minor changes in shape.”
Cooperative effects
The origami scaffold can be designed with docking points for various biomolecular targets, including nucleic acids, antibodies, and proteins. The sensor’s status, whether open or closed, is determined by the attachment of the specific target molecule to the origami structure. This makes it possible to modify and enhance the sensor deliberately by adding more binding sites or stabilizing DNA strands. Tinnefeld explains, “It is relatively straightforward to configure the origami so that multiple molecular interactions between the target molecule and the sensor are assessed at the same time. These multiple connections produce fascinating cooperative effects that enable us to finely tune the sensor’s sensitivity without altering the biomolecular interactions themselves — in other words, the strength of the bond between the target molecule and its binding site. This adaptability is a significant benefit of our system.”
The research team aims to enhance the sensor further for medical and other applications in the future. Tinnefeld suggests that a potential area for application could be sensors capable of monitoring various conditions and releasing active agents when certain criteria are met.