A label-free gold nanoparticles-based optical aptasensor for the detection of retinol binding protein 4
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Date
2022
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
MDPI
Abstract
Retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) has been implicated in insulin resistance in rodents and
humans with obesity and T2DM, making it a potential biomarker for the early diagnosis of T2DM.
However, diagnostic tools for low-level detection of RBP4 are still lagging behind. Therefore, there is
an urgent need for the development of T2DM diagnostics that are rapid, cost-effective and that can
be used at the point-of-care (POC). Recently, nano-enabled biosensors integrating highly selective
optical detection techniques and specificity of aptamers have been widely developed for the rapid
detection of various targets. This study reports on the development of a rapid gold nanoparticles
(AuNPs)-based aptasensor for the detection of RBP4. The retinol-binding protein aptamer (RBP-A)
is adsorbed on the surface of the AuNPs through van der Waals and hydrophobic interactions,
stabilizing the AuNPs against sodium chloride (NaCl)-induced aggregation. Upon the addition of
RBP4, the RBP-A binds to RBP4 and detaches from the surface of the AuNPs, leaving the AuNPs
unprotected.
Description
Keywords
Biotechnology, Type 2 diabetes mellitus, Gold nanoparticles, Biosensing, Colorimetric
Citation
Moabelo, K. L. et al. (2022). A label-free gold nanoparticles-based optical aptasensor for the detection of retinol binding protein 4. Biosensors, 2(12), 1061. https://doi.org/10.3390/bios12121061