Issue 13, 2024

Non-invasive single cell aptasensing in live cells and animals

Abstract

We report a genetically encoded aptamer biosensor platform for non-invasive measurement of drug distribution in cells and animals. We combined the high specificity of aptamer molecular recognition with the easy-to-detect properties of fluorescent proteins. We generated six encoded aptasensors, showcasing the platform versatility. The biosensors display high sensitivity and specificity for detecting their specific drug target over related analogs. We show dose dependent response of biosensor performance reaching saturating drug uptake levels in individual live cells. We designed our platform for integration into animal genomes; thus, we incorporated aptamer biosensors into zebrafish, an important model vertebrate. The biosensors enabled non-invasive drug biodistribution imaging in whole animals across different timepoints. To our knowledge, this is the first example of an aptamer biosensor-expressing transgenic vertebrate that is carried through generations. As such, our encoded platform addresses the need for non-invasive whole animal biosensing ideal for pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic analyses that can be expanded to other organisms and to detect diverse molecules of interest.

Graphical abstract: Non-invasive single cell aptasensing in live cells and animals

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Edge Article
Submitted
27 10 2023
Accepted
18 2 2024
First published
19 2 2024
This article is Open Access

All publication charges for this article have been paid for by the Royal Society of Chemistry
Creative Commons BY-NC license

Chem. Sci., 2024,15, 4770-4778

Non-invasive single cell aptasensing in live cells and animals

E. A. Osman, T. P. Rynes, Y. L. Wang, K. Mruk and M. McKeague, Chem. Sci., 2024, 15, 4770 DOI: 10.1039/D3SC05735F

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