Biosensors and Bioelectronics 2015-12-15

Reconfigurable hybrid interface for molecular marker diagnostics and in-situ reporting.

Kristina Ehrhardt, Michael T Guinn, Tyler Quarton, Michael Q Zhang, Leonidas Bleris

Index: Biosens. Bioelectron. 74 , 744-50, (2015)

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Abstract

Combinations of molecular signals such as transcription factors and microRNAs in cells are a reliable indicator of multi-gene disorders. A system capable of detecting these conditions in-situ may be used as a tool for diagnosis and monitoring of disease. Here, we engineer genetic circuits that sense endogenous levels of the androgen receptor (AR), the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), and the microRNA hsa-miR-21 (miR-21) in cervical cancer cells (HeLa). Furthermore, using the mediator molecule human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), we interface the intracellular information to enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test strips. We demonstrate that this hybrid genetic circuit and test-strip interface can accommodate combinatorial, low-cost, and in-situ reporting, a versatile profiling tool. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.