A team has developed a general, modular strategy for designing sensors that can be easily adapted to various target molecules and concentration ranges. The new modular sensor has the potential to significantly accelerate the development of new diagnostic tools for research.

The sensor uses a DNA origami scaffold, which consists of two arms connected by a molecular hinge. Each arm is tagged with a fluorescent dye, and the distance between the tags is recorded by means of fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). In a closed state, the two arms are parallel; when the structure opens, the arms fold out to form an angle of up to 90°.

The origami scaffold can be equipped with docking sites for various biomolecular targets such as nucleic acids, antibodies, and proteins. Whether the sensor is open or closed depends on the binding of the respective target molecule to the origami scaffold. The sensor can thus be deliberately adapted and optimized through the use of additional binding sites or stabilizing DNA strands. (Image credit: Ludwig-Maximilians University)

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Topics:
Biosensors Data Acquisition Detectors Medical Sensors

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    This article first appeared in the January, 2025 issue of Medical Design Briefs Magazine (Vol. 15 No. 1).

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