Aptamer Selections
Aptamers are short, single-stranded oligonucleotides that are selected via in vitro evolution to bind with high affinity and selectivity to a target of interest. Aptamers can be potentially used in diagnostic and therapeutic applications or as molecular sensors.
The UMD lab is currently working on selecting aptamers for various proteins (including viral RNA polymerases, cancer biomarkers, and proteins involved in the regulation of gene expression in bacteria) and smaller molecules (ex. bacterial signaling molecules).
Biosensor Design and Testing
Biosensors are biomolecules that are capable of detecting a target of interest and emitting a quantifiable output signal (see cartoon schematic of biosensor below).
The UMD lab designs and conducts in vitro testing of RNA-based biosensors for targets of interest. Our biosensors consist of two RNA aptamers joined by a communication module: one aptamer binds to the target of interest, which then leads to the other aptamer binding to its fluorophore target and emitting fluorescence.
Aptamers and Biosensors 