Optical sensors based on hybrid aptamer/conjugated polymer complexes
AssigneesGeneohm Sciences Canada Inc., Universite Laval
InventorsMario Leclerc, Hoang-Anh Ho, Maurice Boissinot
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Abstract
An optical sensor for detecting a target comprising a singlestranded aptamer complementary to said target, and a water-soluble cationic polythiophene derivative of the following formula: wherein “n” is an integer ranging from 6 to 100, is disclosed. The optical sensor allows for the detection of targets selected from the group consisting of potassium ions, small organic molecules, amino acids, proteins, whole cells and nucleotides. The detection is based on the formation of hybrid anionic aptamer/cationic poly-thiophene complexes.
Claims26
An optical sensor for detecting a quadruplex G-quartet structure of a target bound by a single stranded aptamer complementary to said target, the optical sensor comprising:
- the single-stranded aptamer complementary to said target, wherein said aptamer and target complex form the quadruplex G-quartet structure;
- and
- a water-soluble cationic polythiophene derivative of the following formula:
- wherein “n” is an integer ranging from 6 to 100, and
- wherein the said target is selected from the group consisting of potassium ions, small organic molecules, amino acids, proteins, whole cells and nucleotides.
A method for detecting a quadruplex G-quartet structure of a target bound by a single stranded aptamer complementary to said target comprising the steps of:
- a) contacting a sample suspected of containing the target with an optical sensor, said optical sensor comprising:
- the single-stranded aptamer complementary to said target, wherein said aptamer complexes with the target to form the quadruplex G-quartet structure;
- and
- a water soluble cationic polythiophene derivative of the following formula:
- wherein “n” is an integer ranging from 6 to 100;
- and
- b) detecting binding of the aptamer to the target by detecting whether the quadruplex G-quartet structure has been formed by measuring an optical signal.
A method for detecting a quadruplex G-quartet structure of a target bound by a single stranded aptamer complementary to said target comprising the steps of:
- a) contacting a sample suspected of containing the target with said single stranded aptamer complementary to the target;
- b) further contacting the sample with a water-soluble cationic polythiophene derivative of formula:
- wherein “n” is an integer ranging from 6 to 100;
- and
- c) detecting binding of the aptamer to the target by detecting whether the quadruplex G-quartet structure has been formed by measuring an optical signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.