Detection scheme of arginine as aptamer target based on particle dissociation in coupled acoustic-gravitational field.

In this study, we proposed a novel detection concept using aptamer DNA based on particle dissociation in a coupled acoustic-gravitational (CAG) field. When the CAG field was formed in the channel, the PS particles on the glass plate exerted the acoustic radiation force (F_ac), sedimentation force (F_sed), and binding force between the PS particle and glass plate (F_bind). The applied voltage to the transducer (V) required for particle dissociation from the glass plate depends on the F_bind. When the arginine is introduced to the system, in which the PS particles are immobilized onto the glass plate through the DNA hybridization using aptamer for arginine, the change in F_bind can be induced, allowing us to detect the arginine concentration as the change in V. Thus, we demonstrated a detection concept for arginine that enables rough concentration estimation despite the limited precision.