Aptamer Based Microsphere Biosensor for Thrombin Detection

• Main Authors: Xudong Fan, Ian M. White, Jonathan D. Suter, Hongying Zhu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2006-08-01
• Series: Sensors
• Subjects: Microsphere; ring resonator; whispering gallery mode; aptamer; thrombin
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/6/8/785/

We have developed an optical microsphere resonator biosensor using aptamer asreceptor for the measurement of the important biomolecule thrombin. The sphere surface ismodified with anti-thrombin aptamer, which has excellent binding affinity and selectivityfor thrombin. Binding of the thrombin at the sphere surface is monitored by the spectralposition of the microsphere’s whispering gallery mode resonances. A detection limit on theorder of 1 NIH Unit/mL is demonstrated. Control experiments with non-aptameroligonucleotide and BSA are also carried out to confirm the specific binding betweenaptamer and thrombin. We expect that this demonstration will lead to the development ofhighly sensitive biomarker sensors based on aptamer with lower cost and higher throughputthan current technology.