Signal-on electrochemical aptasensors with different target-induced conformations for prostate specific antigen detection

Prostate specific antigen (PSA) has become a potential biomarker for detecting prostate cancer (PCa) in the early stage. Herein, we report a target-induced resolution for the detection of PSA sensitively and specifically by amperometric electrochemical measurements. To meet a satisfactory performance, three conformations of pre-design DNA aptamers including two stem-loop structures and a double strand structure have been investigated and compared. All of them are immobilized on gold electrode as capture probes with redox-active molecular. The mechanism of signal transduction depends on molecular recognition events involving aptamer conformational changes, thus influencing the charge transfer. A short, single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) pseudoknot forming two stem-loop structural aptamers with labeled MB at the 3′ -terminus was found to posse the highest signal variation than other structure when induced by PSA due to the strong conformational change. With the optimized capture strand, the aptasensor showed the peak current increase of MB by the binding relationship between PSA and the sensor over a wide concentration range of 4 magnitude orders. The proposed aptasensor exhibited a wide detection range from 10 pg/mL to 500 ng/mL with a low detection limit of 1.24 pg/mL (S/N = 3). Moreover, the electrochemical aptasensor demonstrated good reproducibility, sensitivity, selectivity, and reliability for the detection of PSA. We also found the aptasensor had a good response in the human serum samples, making this device easy to operate for the detection of the PSA physiological concentration. The schematic of signal-on electrochemical aptasensors via target-induced resolution for sensitive and specific detection of PSA. The conformations of aptamers including two stem-loop structures and a double strand structure have been compared. [Display omitted] •This is the first work related optimization of stem-loop structure with PSA aptamer.•Three conformations of pre-design DNA aptamers with three different conformations have been compared.•The aptasensor exhibited a wide relatively concentration detection range and a low detection limit of 1.24 pg/mL (S/N = 3).•The aptasensor demonstrated excellent specificity, reproducibility, sensitivity, and reliability.