Aptamer-functionalized porous phospholipid nanoshells for direct measurement of Hg(2+) in urine.

ABSTRACT: A porous phospholipid nanoshell (PPN) sensor functionalized with a specific aptamer sensor agent was prepared for rapid detection of Hg(2+) in human urine with minimal sample preparation. Aptamer sensors provide an important class of optical transducers that can be readily and reproducibly synthesized. A key limitation of aptamer sensors, and many other optical sensors, is the potential of biofouling or biodegradation when used in complex biological matrices such as serum or urine, particularly when high levels of nucleases are present. We prepared Hg(2+)-responsive, PPN-encapsulated aptamer sensors that overcome these limitations. PPNs provide a protective barrier to encapsulate the aptamer sensor in an aqueous environment free of diffusional restrictions encountered with many polymer nan

SUBMITTER: Li Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4305462 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature