Design and application of microfluidics in aptamer SELEX and Aptasensors

• Published in: Biotechnology advances 2024-12, Vol.77, p.108461, Article 108461
• Main Authors: Zhang, Shikun, Zhang, Yingming, Ning, Zhiyuan, Duan, Mengxia, Lin, Xianfeng, Duan, Nuo, Wang, Zhouping, Wu, Shijia
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aptamers, Nucleotide - chemistry; Aptasensors; Biosensing Techniques - methods; Chip design; Driving forces; Equipment Design; Humans; Microfluidic Analytical Techniques; Microfluidic technology; Microfluidics - methods; SELEX Aptamer Technique - methods; SELEX integration
• ISSN: 0734-9750; 1873-1899; 1873-1899
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2024.108461

Aptamers are excellent recognition molecules obtained from systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) that have been extensively researched for constructing aptasensors. However, in the process from SELEX to the construction of aptasensors, there are many disadvantages, such as tedious and repetitive operations, interference from external factors, and low efficiency, which seriously limits their application scope and development. Introducing the microfluidic technology can realize the integration and intelligence of SELEX and aptasensing, improve the efficiency of SELEX, and enhance the detection performance and convenience of aptasensing. Hence, in this review, the characteristics of various chips based on different driving forces are described firstly. And then summarizing the design of microfluidic devices based on different SELEX methods and showing the strategies of microfluidic aptasensors based on different detection modes. Finally, discussing the difficulties and challenges encountered when microfluidic is integrated with the SELEX and the aptasensors. •Microfluidic chips are categorized according to their different driving forces.•The SELEX chips are classified by the separation and the SELEX integrated in chip.•Microfluidic aptasensors chips are sorted according to different signals.•Difficulties and challenges and discussed, and some solutions are proposed.