Fabrication of Honeycomb Films Based on Aptamer and Binding Behavior Studies with Fluorophore-Labeled Complementary Base Sequences

Abstract

A novel honeycomb film was successfully fabricated by self-assembly of polystyrene (PS)/polyethylene glycol (PEG)/nucleic acid aptamer with the assistance of dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate (AOT) using the breath figure method. The nucleic acid aptamer embedded in the composite film remained bioactive and the film presented excellent fluorescent behaviors after binding with fluorophore-labeled complementary base sequences. The distribution of aptamer strands in the composite film was inferred from the fluorescence images and fluorescence spectra. The 3′ end and 5′ end of aptamer strands changed from being embedded to stretching out in the single pore of the composite film. The corresponding fluorescence images shifted from fluorescent spots to semicircular and annular fluorescent structures. This strategy can improve applications of honeycomb films in biosensors and microreactors.