Method of immobilizing nucleic acid aptamers
AssigneeMcMaster University
InventorsNicholas Rupcich, Razvan Nutiu, John Brennan, Yingfu Li
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Abstract
The present invention relates to methods of immobilizing nucleic acid aptamers within a sol-gel matrix. The aptamer system remains functionally intact when it is immobilized within a protein and membrane-compatible sol-gel derived from polyol silane precursors or sodium silicate.
Claims37
A method of immobilizing nucleic acid aptamers comprising combining at least one nucleic acid aptamer with a sol-gel precursor and treating the at least one aptamer and precursor under conditions for a gel to form.
A method of immobilizing nucleic acid aptamers or nucleic acid aptamer systems in silica matrixes comprising:
- (i) combining an aqueous solution of a sol-gel precursor with an aqueous solution of the nucleic acid aptamer or nucleic acid aptamer system;
- (ii) adjusting the pH of the combination of (i) so that it is in the range of about 4-11;
- (iii) shaping the combination into a desired shape;
- (iv) allowing the combination to gel;
- and
- (v) aging and partially drying the gel.
A sol gel comprising one or more nucleic acid aptamers or nucleic acid aptamer systems immobilized therein.
A method for detecting a molecule comprising:
- (a) exposing an aptamer, or aptamer system, that specifically binds to the molecule, said aptamer or aptamer system being immobilized in a sol-gel, to a test solution suspected of comprising the molecule;
- and
- (b) detecting a change in one or more characteristics of aptamer or aptamer system.
A method of separating one or more compounds from a mixture comprising:
- (a) contacting the mixture with a sol gel comprising an aptamer or aptamer system immobilized therein, said aptamer or aptamer system having selective binding to the one or more compounds, under conditions for the one or more compounds to bind to the aptamer or aptamer system;
- (b) treating the sol gel under conditions to remove the mixture from the sol gel;
- and
- (c) optionally isolating the one or more compounds from the sol gel.
A method of performing chemical reactions comprising:
- (a) exposing one or more reactants to a sol gel comprising an aptamer or aptamer system immobilized therein, under conditions for the reaction to proceed to produce one or more reaction products;
- (b) removing the one or more reaction products from the sol gel;
- and
- (c) optionally isolating the one or more reaction products.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.