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Uranyl Ion Biosensors for Water Quality and Safety
Author(s) -
Jett Susan J,
Bonham Andrew J
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.30.1_supplement.841.2
Subject(s) - uranyl , biosensor , uranium , aptamer , water source , contamination , water quality , chemistry , environmental remediation , oligonucleotide , environmental science , nanotechnology , environmental chemistry , materials science , ecology , dna , biochemistry , water resource management , biology , metallurgy , genetics
We have developed a novel electrochemical biosensor for the purpose of detecting uranium, in the uranyl ion form, in untreated water samples at low levels for use in academic, research, and professional settings. This could lead to applications in ongoing water quality monitoring, as well as improve targeting and efficiency of remediation of contaminated water sources. Uranium contamination of a water source has far reaching implications as a connected water system allows for contaminates to pollute all connected water systems over many miles, in turn effecting the organisms that rely on that water supply. This system uses a modified uranyl‐binding aptamer that has been inserted into an oligonucleotide scaffold to create a conformation‐switching element. This oligonucleotide is then integrated into an electrochemical biosensor platform. Ongoing work is determining the detection limits and sensitivity to the target ion of our scaffold biosensor, with the goal of parts per billion detection of uranyl, allowing compliance measurement against EPA standards of uranium limits.