Abstract
Systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) has been a crucial procedure which allows extraction of oligomers with desired binding affinity for a target molecule from an initially random pool of oligonucleotides. It can be used to screen DNA- or RNA-based aptamers which are specific to proteins and biomolecules, making it a promising platform for the study of biomarkers. This study reports a new magnetic-bead-based microfluidic system for performing SELEX in an automatic mode. The developed microsystem is promising for fast selection of aptamers, which is an excellent tool for selection of nucleotides with high affinity for a particular target from a random pool under specific conditions. © 2009 CBMS.