Rethinking Electrochemical Interrogation Methods to Drive New Analytical Capabilities of Aptamer-Based Sensors

Description:
The ability to monitor the dynamics of small molecules in complex environments has the potential to provide new insight and actionable information if a broad range of applications. For example, understanding the release of molecular messengers in the brain can lead to new insights into the chemistry of brain. Monitoring the rate of change of microcystin toxins in water can predict the onset of harmful algal blooms. Critical to the success of sensors in these applications is the ability to achieve the temporal and spatial resolution needed to capture these dynamic processes. Electrochemical, aptamer-based sensors represent a class of sensors that provide sensitive, specific, and selective detection abilities. In this talk I will discuss our recent advances in the development of new electrochemical waveforms that significantly increase the information content obtainable from a single voltammograms. Specifically, we have developed a continuous square wave voltammeter method that enables rapid optimization of electrochemical, aptamer-based sensors signaling while also allowing for single sweep, self calibration of the sensor for absolute quantification of target analyte. This new method is poised to disrupt the way aptamer-based sensors are utilized.

Speaker: Ryan White - University of Cincinnati