We developed a liquid crystal (LC) aptamer biosensor for the sensitive detection of amoxicillin (AMX). The AMX aptamer was immobilized onto the surface of a glass slide modified with a mixed self-assembled layer of dimethyloctadecyl [3-(trimethoxysilyl) propyl] ammonium chloride (DMOAP) and (3-aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APTES). The long alkyl chains of DMOAP maintained the LC molecules in a homeotropic orientation and induced a dark optical appearance under a polarized light microscope (POM). In the presence of AMX, the specific binding of the aptamer and AMX molecules induced a conformational change in the aptamers, leading to the disruption of the homeotropic orientation of LCs, resulting in a bright optical appearance. The developed aptasensor showed high specificity and a low detection limit of 3.5 nM. Moreover, the potential application of the developed aptasensor for the detection of AMX in environmental samples was also demonstrated. Therefore, the proposed aptasensor is a promising platform for simple, rapid, and label-free monitoring of AMX in an actual water environment with high selectivity and sensitivity.
Keywords: DNA aptamer; amoxicillin; liquid crystal biosensors; liquid crystals; polarized light microscopy.