Aptamer-based smart materials for biosensing and delivery applications

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"Smart" materials are an emerging class of multifunctional materials whose physical or chemical properties are controllably altered in response to an external stimulus. By combining the properties of an advanced material with the ability to adapt in response to a change in their environment, these materials are finding applications in sensing and drug delivery. While many smart materials respond to physical or chemical stimuli (pH, temperature), the development of smart materials that are sensitive to specific molecules or biomolecules is a topic of growing interest. Preparation of these systems involves the integration of a component that can recognize the target molecule (molecular recognition probe).  Aptamers are molecular recognition probes that have many unique properties that make them well-suited to novel smart material systems.  Aptamers are synthetic DNA or RNA that fold into distinct nanoscale shapes capable of binding with high affinity and specificity to a target molecule. The ease of synthesis and labeling, low cost, and stability of DNA aptamers make them particularly attractive for incorporation into smart materials. This proposal aims to develop new aptamer-based smart material systems that demonstrate target-molecule-triggered changes as a result of aptamer inclusion. There is a rich diversity of approaches for aptamer-based smart material development. This proposal will explore two promising classes of smart materials: hydrogels and polyelectrolyte multilayers. The overarching goal of this work is to move aptamer-based systems from those that provide simple reporting on the presence of a target to ones where the presence of the target is used as a stimulus to trigger changes to the material (e.g. degradation of the material or release of a molecular payload, such as a drug or nutrient).  The proposed research program builds on the current work in Carleton University's Laboratory for Aptamer Discovery and Development of Emerging Research (LADDER) and examines the marriage of aptamer technology with material science and nanotechnology to yield smart materials with advanced, tunable properties.  This research program will provide the foundation and conceptual framework needed for the rational design of innovative aptamer-based smart materials.  These smart materials will find applications in a variety of fields from agriculture (agrochemical delivery) to medicine (drug delivery).  Students trained in this program will benefit from a rich, interdisciplinary environment where they will gain valuable experience in the synthesis and application of aptamers and the preparation and characterization of nanomaterials and polymer systems. They will also benefit from interactions with collaborators and end-users of varied backgrounds and expertise in the development of new responsive materials for agriculture, environment, and health.