(360e) Aptamer-Based Biosensor for Dimethylsilanediol Detection

Dimethylsilanediol (DMSD) emerges as a concerning contaminant in drinking water on the Space Station, primarily originating from the breakdown of silicon-based compounds in personal care products. Its presence in water collected from humidity condensation poses health risks to astronauts, and thus there is an urgent need to develop a sensor or tool for detecting DMSD accurately. To address this challenge, we are developing aptasensors for detecting DMSD in water samples.

Aptamers, single-stranded oligonucleotides with precise binding capabilities, offer a versatile means of identifying a wide range of contaminants. Selective aptamers are screened through a process named Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment (SELEX). In this study, we will first identify DMSD aptamers through Capture-SELEX, a modified SELEX technique that involves immobilization of the DNA library onto magnetic beads to enhance screening efficiency. Then we will employ advanced technologies to characterize and validate the aptamers identified. Finally, we will construct an aptamer-enabled biosensor for DMSD detection. By harnessing the unique binding properties of aptamers, the detection of DMSD in water samples with high sensing performance will be achieved.