Kinetic binding analysis of aptamers targeting HIV-1 proteins by a combination of a microbalance array and mass spectrometry (MAMS).

An enhanced chip-based detection platform was developed by integrating a surface acoustic wave biosensor of the Love-wave type with protein identification by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-ToF MS). The system was applied to characterize the interaction of aptamers with their cognate HIV-1 proteins. The aptamers, which target two proteins of HIV-1, were identified using an automated in vitro selection platform.

Selection process generating peptide aptamers and analysis of their binding to the TiO2 surface of a surface acoustic wave sensor.

The set-up presented in this article is intended for the selection of peptides which serve as specific binders to suitable materials. Additionally, the interaction of such binders with material surfaces can be characterized. Using this approach, a subset of peptides which adhere to the mineral TiO(2) was generated by means of a cell surface display library.

Discrimination of single mutations in cancer-related gene fragments with a surface acoustic wave sensor.

Here, we report on using a surface acoustic wave sensor for the highly sensitive and accurate detection of individual point mutations in cancer-related gene DNA fragments from single injections. Our sensor measures both the mass and viscosity signals and, thus, allows discriminating between mass effects resulting from hybridization of short DNA strands and viscosity effects due to increasing amounts of DNA deposited on the sensor. Single nucleotide exchanges or deletions are distinguished reliably and with exceeding simplicity from the wild-type sequences, on the basis of differences in their dissociation or association rates starting at low nanomolar concentrations.