Aptamer-based sensors can selectively detect and measure a wide variety of molecules. These sensors have aptamer probes designed to bind to a specific target molecule. The target molecule, when present, binds to the aptamer probe which creates a measurable electrochemical signal. Due to their selectivity, these sensors are very useful for biological and environmental applications. However, these fluids contain proteins and other contaminants which adsorb to the sensor's electrode surface and block the electrical signal. This leads to fouling of the electrode and a loss of signal fidelity.
Signal fidelity is crucial for applications such as sweat sensing and water pollution monitoring, where concentrations of target molecule are low and the sensitivity of the sensor must begin and remain high. This problem can be overcome by pre-treating the fluid to remove the proteins, but this is not ideal when immediate results are desired.
Dr. Ryan White, Associate Professor for the Department of Chemistry at the University of Cincinnati and Ohio Eminent Scholar, and his team have developed an electrochemical aptamer-based sensor technology that can accurately detect almost any small molecule or protein while maintaining high signal fidelity in environmental and biological fluids.