Aptamer biosensors useful for detecting hormones, hormone mimics, and metabolites thereof

Abstract

The present invention provides polynucleotides that bind to small molecules and methods of using the polynucleotides. In some embodiments, a method comprises detecting a small molecule with a polynucleotide. In other embodiments, a method comprises administering a polynucleotide to inhibit the action of a small molecule. In some embodiments, the small molecule is a hormone, a hormone mimic, phytoestrogen, opiate, opioid, endocrine disrupting compound, metabolite thereof, or variant thereof.

1 .- 130 . (canceled) 
     
     
         131 . A deoxyribose nucleic acid or salt thereof comprising a sequence that as 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99 or 100% sequence identity to a sequence of SEQ ID Nos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26, which polynucleotide or salt thereof selectively binds to 17β-estradiol. 
     
     
         132 . A method of detecting 17β-estradiol in a sample, the method comprising the steps of:
 (i) contacting a sample with a polynucleotide-agent complex comprising: 
 a. deoxyribose nucleic acid or salt thereof according to  claim 131 ; and 
 b. an agent selected from a noble metal, nanoparticle, microparticle, quantum dot, radioactive substance, dye, contrast agent, fluorescent molecule, 
 phosphorescent molecule, bioluminescent molecule, chemiluminescent molecule, chromophore, photoaffinity molecule, colored particle, ligand, enzyme or enhancing agent 
 which polynucleotide-agent complex selectively binds to 17β-estradiol when present in the sample; and 
 (ii) measuring a change in a property of the polynucleotide-agent complex; 
 wherein a measured change in the property of the polynucleotide-agent complex indicates the presence of 17β-estradiol in the sample. 
 
     
     
         133 . A deoxyribose nucleic acid or salt thereof comprising a sequence that as 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99 or 100% sequence identity to a sequence of SEQ ID Nos: 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 130, 131, 132 and 133, which polynucleotide or salt thereof selectively binds to androstenedione. 
     
     
         134 . A method of detecting androstenedione in a sample, the method comprising the steps of:
 (i) contacting a sample with a polynucleotide-agent complex comprising:   a. deoxyribose nucleic acid or salt thereof according to  claim 133 ; and   b. an agent selected from a noble metal, nanoparticle, microparticle, quantum dot, radioactive substance, dye, contrast agent, fluorescent molecule,   phosphorescent molecule, bioluminescent molecule, chemiluminescent molecule, chromophore, photoaffinity molecule, colored particle, ligand, enzyme or enhancing agent   which polynucleotide-agent complex selectively binds to androstenedione when present in the sample; and   (ii) measuring a change in a property of the polynucleotide-agent complex;   wherein a measured change in the property of the polynucleotide-agent complex indicates the presence of androstenedione in the sample.   
     
     
         135 . A deoxyribose nucleic acid or salt thereof comprising a sequence that as 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99 or 100% sequence identity to a sequence of SEQ ID Nos: 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138 and 139, which polynucleotide or salt thereof selectively binds to bisphenol-A. 
     
     
         136 . A method of detecting bisphenol-A in a sample, the method comprising the steps of:
 (i) contacting a sample with a polynucleotide-agent complex comprising:   a. deoxyribose nucleic acid or salt thereof according to  claim 135 ; and   b. an agent selected from a noble metal, nanoparticle, microparticle, quantum dot, radioactive substance, dye, contrast agent, fluorescent molecule,   phosphorescent molecule, bioluminescent molecule, chemiluminescent molecule, chromophore, photoaffinity molecule, colored particle, ligand, enzyme or enhancing agent   which polynucleotide-agent complex selectively binds to bisphenol-A when present in the sample; and   (ii) measuring a change in a property of the polynucleotide-agent complex;   wherein a measured change in the property of the polynucleotide-agent complex indicates the presence of bisphenol-A in the sample.   
     
     
         137 . A deoxyribose nucleic acid or salt thereof comprising a sequence that as 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99 or 100% sequence identity to a sequence of SEQ ID Nos: 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 144 and 145, which polynucleotide or salt thereof selectively binds to testosterone. 
     
     
         138 . A method of detecting testosterone in a sample, the method comprising the steps of:
 (i) contacting a sample with a polynucleotide-agent complex comprising:   a. deoxyribose nucleic acid or salt thereof according to  claim 137 ; and   b. an agent selected from a noble metal, nanoparticle, microparticle, quantum dot, radioactive substance, dye, contrast agent, fluorescent molecule,   phosphorescent molecule, bioluminescent molecule, chemiluminescent molecule, chromophore, photoaffinity molecule, colored particle, ligand, enzyme or enhancing agent   which polynucleotide-agent complex selectively binds to testosterone when present in the sample; and   (ii) measuring a change in a property of the polynucleotide-agent complex;   wherein a measured change in the property of the polynucleotide-agent complex indicates the presence of testosterone in the sample.