Development of an E2 colorimetric sensor based on truncation optimization strategy of 17β-Estradiol aptamer

This study introduces a novel E2 (17β-estradiol) colorimetric sensor constructed using a truncation optimization strategy of the nucleic acid aptamer. Systematic truncation of the 17β-estradiol nucleic acid aptamer was performed, leading to the design and evaluation of a series of aptamer variants with different lengths to enhance their structural stability and synthesis efficiency. Through a series of experiments, the binding affinities of these truncated aptamer variants with E2 were compared, resulting in the selection of an optimal aptamer, E12. Aptamer E12, chosen through this process, was successfully applied in a gold nanoparticle-based colorimetric assay, enabling susceptible and specific detection of E2. Our research not only presents a simple and cost-effective method for E2 detection but also provides new insights into the truncation optimization strategy of nucleic acid aptamers. The developed E2 colorimetric sensor exhibits outstanding specificity and sensitivity and holds great promise for applications in environmental pollution detection.