Detection of Hepatitis C Virus Core Protein in Serum Using Aptamer-Functionalized AFM Chips

Abstract

In the present study, we demonstrate atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based detection of hepatitis C virus (HCV) particles in serum samples using a chip with aptamer-functionalized surface (apta-based AFM chip). The target particles, containing core antigen of HCV (HCVcoreAg protein), were biospecifically captured onto the chip surface from 1 mL of test solution containing 10 µL of serum collected from a hepatitis C patient. The registration of aptamer/antigen complexes on the chip surface was performed by AFM. The aptamers used in the present study were initially developed for therapeutic purposes; herein, these aptamers have been successfully utilized as probe molecules for HCVcoreAg detection in the presence of a complex protein matrix (human serum). The results obtained herein can be used for the development of detection systems that employ affine enrichment for protein detection.

Conservation and variability of hepatitis B core at different chronic hepatitis stages

“…Again, the hyper-conserved regions detected in our study could be novel targets for aptamer-based strategies that might work independently of clinical stage or HBV genotype. They could be also used to elaborate a new HBV detection system, as has been done with hepatitis C virus [33] and syncytial viruses [34] .…”

Immuno-MALDI MS dataset for improved detection of HCVcoreAg in sera

“…The thymine amino group and ten nucleotides were included into the nucleotide sequences of aptamers to improve its covalent immobilization efficiency on the surfaces of the AFM-chip, and to level up steric hindrances in interaction with target protein molecules [3].…”

“…Four zones with immobilized aptamers (А12, А14, А15 and А16) were formed on the surfaces of working and control AFM-chips. Activation of the AFM-chip surfaces and immobilization of aptamers were carried out in accordance with the method detailed in article [3]. Arrangement of zones on the AFM-chip surfaces is presented in Supplementary Fig.…”

“…Subsequently, the AFM-chip was washed thrice with deonized water for 30 minutes at 37 °C and dried in presence of nitrogen flow. Emulgen 913 solution at a concentration of 0.01% that has been used in our previous study [3], [4] was used as the wash buffer.…”

Saddle‐Node Bifurcation and Homoclinic Persistence in AFMs with Periodic Forcing

“…Generally, AFMs measure the interactions between particles, thus allowing the nanoscale study of the surfaces for different materials [2][3][4]. In fact, a wide variety of applications in the analysis of pharmaceutical products, the study of the properties of fluids and fluids in cellular detection, and studies on medicines, among others, can be found in [5][6][7][8].…”