Title: Aptamer-based and DNAzyme-based biosensors for environmental monitoring

Authors: Massimo Di Fusco, Cristina Tortolini, Marco Frasconi, Franco Mazzei

Addresses: Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco, Sapienza Universita di Roma, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; Dipartimento di Chimica, Sapienza Universita di Roma, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy. ' Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco, Sapienza Universita di Roma, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy. ' Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco, Sapienza Universita di Roma, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy. ' Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco, Sapienza Universita di Roma, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy

Abstract: Aptamers and DNAzymes are small single-stranded nucleic acids that fold into a well-defined three-dimensional structure with high specificity to various ligands, such as low-molecular-weight organic or inorganic substrates or macromolecules. Their specificity is comparable with and in certain cases even higher than those of antibodies, and they can be applied for specific detection of various analytes, ranging from small ions to large molecules. This review describes the state of the art in the use of aptamers and DNAzymes in the development of biosensors for environmental monitoring.

Keywords: aptamers; biosensors; electrodes; surface plasmon resonance; pesticides; herbicides; toxins; heavy metals; environmental monitoring; DNAzymes; nucleic acids; environmental pollution.

DOI: 10.1504/IJENVH.2011.041327

International Journal of Environment and Health, 2011 Vol.5 No.3, pp.186 - 204

Published online: 16 Jul 2011 *

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