Abstract:

Single-stranded nucleic acid aptamers, also known as synthetic antibodies, are widely used in sensing owing to their high selectivity and the range of detectable target analytes. A major challenge, however, is the fabrication of aptamer-based sensors with sufficiently small dimensions to enable localized, spatially resolved measurements in complex biological environments. In this talk, our efforts to integrate aptamer-based sensing probes with scanning electrochemical techniques to investigate chemical heterogeneity at the single-cell level will be presented. With a focus on probe design and fabrication, we are using self-assembled monolayers of thiolated aptamers on gold nanostructures confined within nanopipettes and on microscale electrode surfaces. These complementary platforms allow real-time monitoring of target analyte concentrations and can be coupled with imaging modalities. By incorporating aptamers into the imaging probes of scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) and scanning ion conductance microscopy (SICM), we demonstrate new routes to high-spatial-resolution specific detection, including for non-redox-active species.

Speaker Bio:

Robert Lazenby is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Florida State University. He received his PhD in Chemistry from the University of Warwick, where he worked under the supervision of Patrick Unwin and Julie Macpherson, and completed postdoctoral training with Ryan White at the University of Maryland Baltimore County and the University of Cincinnati. His research focuses on electrochemistry and bioanalytical chemistry, including the development of scanning electrochemical probe microscopies, aptamer-based electrochemical and ion conductance sensors, and multifunctional biosensor probes for simultaneous analyte detection. His group’s work, recently supported by an NIH MIRA award, aims to provide new insights into cellular processes and disease-relevant chemistry.