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Title: Combating small molecule environmental contaminants: detection and sequestration using functional nucleic acids
Small molecule contaminants pose a significant threat to the environment and human health. While regulations are in place for allowed limits in many countries, detection and remediation of contaminants in more resource-limited settings and everyday environmental sources remains a challenge. Functional nucleic acids, including aptamers and DNA enzymes, have emerged as powerful options for addressing this challenge due to their ability to non-covalently interact with small molecule targets. The goal of this perspective is to outline recent efforts toward the selection of aptamers for small molecules and describe their subsequent implementation for environmental applications. Finally, we provide an outlook that addresses barriers that hinder these technologies from being widely adopted in field friendly settings and propose a path forward toward addressing these challenges.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
1904885
PAR ID:
10355113
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ;
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Chemical Science
Volume:
13
Issue:
26
ISSN:
2041-6520
Page Range / eLocation ID:
7670 to 7684
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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