Fitting pieces for biosensors

New book provides an overview of aptamer development and applications

This release is available in German.

		IMAGE: Graphical model of the ethanolamine binding aptamer. The small ethanolamine molecule will be bound to a G-rich sequence region of the aptamer, which is able to form a quadruplex structure.... Click here for more information.

Leipzig: Research and industry are increasingly exploiting the potential of aptamers. As well as their application in research, medical diagnosis and treatment, aptamers are also interesting as a basis for biosensors for use in environmental analysis because their characteristics enable them to identify and bind target molecules as surely as a key fits a lock. In a new book, researchers at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) describe the methods used to obtain aptamers. A newly-approved project aims to develop new nanostructured biosensors to measure harmful substances in water.