An Automated Microfluidic System for Optimization of Aptamer Selection by Using Cancer Tissue Samples

Abstract

An integrated microfluidic system for automating 6 rounds of tissue-based Systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (tissue-SELEX) processes has been demonstrated previously. However, affinity and specificity of aptamers are sensitive to environments and therefore it is a major task to optimize them after tedious screening processes. In this study, we used an integrated microfluidic system to automatically perform the entire tissue-SELEX process under different screening conditions simulating physiological environment such as human whole blood. The structures and functionalities of aptamers during the screening process could be therefore readily applied on clinical biopsy.