LAUSR

An ellipsometric biosensor, to be used in the detection of mercuric ions that affect the vital organs of living organisms, was developed. In this context, as a diagnostic element of the developed ellipsometric biosensor, a nucleic acid-based aptamer that is highly selective for mercuric ions (Hg 2+ ) was used. Two different aptamers, a long and straight sequence, and a hairpin-structured oligonucleotide sequence were chosen. The detection sensitivity obtained by both aptamers was 0.237°/μM and 0.211°/μM, respectively. The detection limit was 0.89 pM Hg 2+ and 187 nM Hg 2+ for linear- and hairpin-type oligonucleotide, respectively.