Working group of Prof. Gauglitz

Development of an aptamer based biochip for detection of immunglobuline E

Aptamers, a new class of DNA or RNA oligonucleotides, are able to bind a wide range of target molecules with high affinity and specificity due to their threedimensional folding. Thereby, compared to antibodies, aptamers show a number of advantages. The leading point is the production with no need of animals. Immune reactions of animals, which are used to obtain antibodies, can fail: on the one hand, because the target protein is too similar to an endogene protein so it will not initiate an immune reaction or, on the other hand, the utilized antigen shows high toxicity. In contrast, the development of aptamers by the SELEX process, a chemical in vitro selection technique, affords to generate aptamers against almost every target substance.

For example, a RIfS-based biosensor using a specific aptamer can be used to detect selectively and quantitatively human immunglobuline E, which is laid off at type I allergic reactions.