A cross-contamination-free SELEX platform for a multi-target selection strategy
Author
Summary, in English
Multi-target aptamer selection, known as multiplex systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX), is rapidly drawing interest because of its potential to enable high-speed, high-throughput aptamer selection. The parallelization of chemical processes by integrating microfluidic unit operations is a key strategy for developing a multiplex SELEX process. One of the potential problems with on-chip multiplexing chemical processes is cross-contamination. In order to avoid this, we propose a microfluidic network platform that uses pneumatic valves to allow the serial loading and incubation of aptamers with sol-gel entrapped target proteins. After target binding inside the sol-gels, the cross-contamination-free parallel elution of specifically bound aptamers is performed. The platform allows selective binding with five different targets immobilized in sol-gel spots. When eluting bound species, cross-contamination is avoided by sealing the adjacent elution chambers from each other using the pneumatic microvalves. Consequently, we demonstrate specific aptamer binding to the respective protein target and subsequent aptamer elution without any cross-contamination. This proof of concept opens the way to increased automation and microscale parallel processing of the SELEX methodology.
Department/s
- Department of Biomedical Engineering
- MultiPark: Multidisciplinary research focused on Parkinson´s disease
- BioCARE: Biomarkers in Cancer Medicine improving Health Care, Education and Innovation
Publishing year
2013
Language
English
Pages
38-45
Publication/Series
Biochip Journal
Volume
7
Issue
1
Document type
Journal article
Publisher
Korean BioChip Society (KBCS)
Topic
- Medical Engineering
Keywords
- Microfluidic pneumatic valve
- Microheater
- Multiplex SELEX
- Sol-gel
- immobilization
- Aptamer
Status
Published
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 2092-7843