Quantum Dot and Nucleic Acid Optical Readout for Cell-Free Biosensing.

ABSTRACT: Cell-free biosensors combine in vitro bacterial transcription-translation systems with operons to detect analytes, such as heavy-metal ions. These sensors are highly desirable due to their easy portability and long shelf life. Typically, the expression of a fluorescent RNA aptamer or protein tied to the presence of an analyte is used as an optical readout for detection in such biosensors. While these readouts have demonstrated tremendous success in testing water potability, the readout is limited by how many different RNA aptamers and proteins can be used simultaneously. The quantum yield of these biological fluorescent molecules is low as well. Recently, we demonstrated a semiconductor quantum dot (QD)-based reporter system that is fully compatible with cell-free transcription-translation

SUBMITTER: Srivastava E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12921591 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature