DeDNAed is developing a novel, innovative biosensing platform with benefits in terms of sensitivity, versatility and speed. This biosensor platform has four model interaction pairs: DNA-DNA, Aptamer-small molecule, peptide-protein and antibody-protein.

At DeDNAed partner University of Potsdam (UP), we are using a HeliX® biosensor instrument, from Dynamic Biosensors, to characterise these interactions. HeliX® employs switchSENSE® technology enabling a comprehensive binding kinetics data collection. switchSENSE basically works on custom fluorophore labelled DNA nanolevers attached to the gold surface, on the HeliX® biochip.

All measurement modes available measure the changes in the fluorescent intensity of a dye attached to the DNA nanolever. The fluorescence depends on the local environment of the dye as well as the distance of the dye from the quenching gold electrode surface of the HeliX® biochip.

This video explains the ligand preparation steps followed by analyte preparation and finally the designed assay kinetics running automatically in the HeliX® instrument. Examples of DNA-DNA binding and Aptamer-small molecule interaction can be seen at the end.

Video footage courtesy of Saloni Agarwal, PhD researcher, University of Potsdam