Stabilizing Structure-Switching Signaling RNA Aptamers by Entrapment in Sol–Gel Derived Materials for Solid-Phase Assays

Structure-switching, fluorescence-signaling DNA and RNA aptamers have been reported as highly versatile molecular recognition elements for biosensor development. While structure-switching DNA aptamers have been utilized for solid-phase sensing, equivalent RNA aptamers have yet to be successfully utilized in solid-phase sensors due to their lack of chemical stability and susceptibility to nuclease attack. In this study, we examined entrapment into sol–gel derived organic–inorganic composite materials as a platform for immobilization of structure-switching fluorescence-signaling RNA aptamer reporters, using both the synthetic theophylline- and naturally occurring thiamine pyrophosphate-binding RNA aptamers as test cases. Structure-switching versions of both aptamers were entrapped into a series of sol–gel derived composites, ranging from highly polar silica to hydrophobic methylsilsesquioxane-based materials, and the target-binding and signaling capabilities of these immobilized aptamers were assessed relative to solution. Both immobilized aptamers demonstrated sensitivity and selectivity similar to that of free aptamers when entrapped in a composite material derived from 40% (v/v) methyltrimethoxysilane/tetramethoxysilane. Importantly, this material also conferred protection from nuclease degradation and imparted long-term chemical stability to the RNA reporter systems. Given the versatility of sol–gel entrapment for development of biosensors, microarrays, bioaffinity columns, and other devices, this entrapment method should provide a useful platform for numerous solid-phase RNA aptamer-based devices.