Aptamers as the Agent in Decontamination Assays (Apta-Decontamination Assays): From the Environment to the Potential Application In Vivo

Figure 6

Schematic representation of the reusability of aptamer-based hydrogel scavenger in apta-decontamination of three pollutants. Aptamers are immobilized on the surface of the Fe₃O₄-Ag Janus-type hybrid nanoparticles encapsulated within a 3D porous structure of hydrogel. The targets (heavy metal ions, organic pollutants, and pathogens in drinking water) are captured by the aptamers. Aptamers are reused/regenerated by changes in the pH and the aptamers can be reused for the subsequent capture assay [77].