PMSE 152 |
| Rapid, accurate detection and prevention of influenza virus has important clinical and public health implications. In this work, we describe the engineering of highly customizable polyelectrolyte multilayer (PEM) films incorporated with hemagglutinin (HA) aptamer which binds and detects the virus's HA receptor-binding region. Current techniques to detect the presence of virus involve expensive, multiple steps requiring several days to analyze and confirm the presence of the virus. We have engineered an aptamer based system targeting influenza virus using PEM films by capitalizing on electrostatic interaction between the polycations (PLL) and the negatively charged aptamer (HA aptamer). This system can be used both to detect and inhibit the virus. Aptamer arrays on PEMs were created by ionic interactions using microcontact printing (μCP) to detect for the HA antigens on the virus surface. The construction of the multilayer films of poly-L-lysine (PLL) and HA aptamer was also characterized. These films were deconstructed under physiological conditions (salt conc=0.25M) to release the HA aptamer, which can then target the HA region of the virus and passivate the virus. To our knowledge, this study represents the first report of incorporating aptamer within PEM films. This PEM and HA-aptamer based system provides a tool to 1) detect and quantify the influenza related antigenic proteins (HA and NA) and 2) inhibit the binding and interaction of HA with the host cells to prevent infection by the virus. |
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ICI Student Award Symposium
8:30 AM-11:55 AM, Tuesday, August 21, 2007 Westin Boston Waterfront -- Grand Ballroom D, Oral
Division of Polymeric Materials: Science & Engineering |