Sprecher
Beschreibung
Current advances in DNA nanotechnology have enabled the design and synthesis of complex and functional nanostructures, including artificial DNA motors, DNA crystals, and DNA nanopores [1]. A notable development is a DNA origami-based biosensor in which the biorecognition and signal transduction elements are completely decoupled [2]. This makes it a valuable tool for detecting single molecules of nucleic acids, single-nucleotide polymorphisms, as well as various protein targets. Proteases are an important class of biomolecules that require improved strategies for activity detection.
In this work, we focus on a clinically relevant protease, A Disintegrin And Metalloprotease with ThromboSpondin repeats 13 (ADAMTS-13), which plays a key role in coagulation disorders [3]. We present a DNA origami-based biosensor capable of directly reporting ADAMTS-13 activity in blood samples. This approach enables rapid, near-patient analysis, offering a simple, cost-effective, and easy-to-use point-of-care testing (POCT) solution. Such a tool could significantly aid clinical decision-making in emergency settings by facilitating timely differentiation between coagulation-related conditions.
References
[1] Pengfei Zhan et al. 2023. Recent Advances in DNA Origami-Engineered Nanomaterials and Applications. Chemical Reviews. 123:3976-4050
[2] Lennart Grabenhorst et al. 2025. Engineering modular and tunable single-molecule sensors by decoupling sensing from signal output. Nat. Nanotechnol. 20, 303–310
[3] HM Tsai. 1996 Physiologic cleavage of von Willebrand factor by a plasma protease is dependent on its conformation and requires calcium ion. Blood. 87 (10): 4235–4244
