Abstract
Aptamers being used as sensors is an emerging field that has capabilities of being tomorrow’s diagnostic tools. As aptameric sensors have become more popular, their visualization systems have been limited. The majority of today’s aptameric sensors require expensive machinery such as a fluorometer in order to visualize results. We propose a system that will cut the need for instrumentation and be detected via the naked eye. With the selection of an aptamer to bind the pH indicating dye bromocresol purple (BCP) this may be achieved. When rendered active, the binding towards BCP will facilitate a color change from yellow to purple or vice versa. Previous studies have shown albumin contains the ability to facilitate this role and we now intend to use a DNA aptamer to achieve this as well. The BCP aptamer has the potential to serve as a signaling domain to any already selected aptamer thus making it a universal tool for both research and diagnostic measures. We have found that an alternative structure-switching systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) method which left the dye unaltered was not sufficient for selecting an aptamer. We believe that a classical SELEX will enable us to select an aptamer that may be used to accomplish this role as a universal visual detector.
Thesis Completion
2016
Semester
Fall
Thesis Chair/Advisor
Kolpashchikov, Dmitry
Degree
Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
College
College of Medicine
Department
Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences
Degree Program
Biomedical Sciences
Location
Orlando (Main) Campus
Language
English
Access Status
Open Access
Release Date
December 2016
Recommended Citation
Miller, Derek B., "Aptameric Sensors: In Vitro Selection of DNA that Binds Bromocresol Purple" (2016). Honors Undergraduate Theses. 112.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/honorstheses/112
Included in
Biochemistry Commons, Diagnosis Commons, Food Microbiology Commons, Molecular Biology Commons, Other Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment Commons