Both DNA and RNA can serve purposes beyond simple genetic storage and transfer âEUR" for example, they can also be employed as enzymes (for catalysis) and receptors (for ligand binding). Increasingly, researchers are making interesting use of these molecules, now collectively called functional nucleic acids. This book, containing chapters written by leading experts in relevant fields, provides timely accounts of diverse analytical applications that take advantage of the functional nucleic acids. The book is written for academic, clinical and industrial scientists and graduate students who may consider exploring functional nucleic acids in their research or practice.

"Nature has long used nucleic acid aptamers and enzymes for regulatory activities, such as the recently discovered "riboswitches" involved in gene expression. The existence of a large array of natural and artificial functional nucleic acids has generated tremendous enthusiasm and new opportunities for molecular scientists from diverse disciplines to devise new concepts and real applications that take advantage of those nucleic acids for sensing and other analytical applications. This book provides a timely and comprehensive overview of recent advances in the field, from leading experts in biology, chemistry, and engineering. A variety of topics are covered, from fundamentals of functional nucleic acids, to their applications as sensors, to nanotechnologies; as well as integration of functional nucleic acids into practical analytical systems."

Overview of Functional Nucleic Acids and Their Analytical Applications.- Introductory Remarks.- Natural Functional Nucleic Acids: Ribozymes and Riboswitches.- Artificial Functional Nucleic Acids: Aptamers, Ribozymes, and Deoxyribozymes Identified by In Vitro Selection.- Functional Nucleic Acid Sensors Based on Different Transduction Principles.- Fluorescent Aptamer Sensors.- Fluorescent Ribozyme and Deoxyribozyme Sensors.- Colorimetric and Fluorescent Biosensors Based on Directed Assembly of Nanomaterials with Functional DNA.- Electrochemical Approaches to Aptamer-Based Sensing.- Amplified DNA Biosensors.- Other Emerging Analytical Applications.- Aptamers in Affinity Separations:Capillary Electrophoresis.- Aptamers in Affinity Separations: Stationary Separation.- Aptamer Microarrays.- The Use of Functional Nucleic Acids in Solid-Phase Fluorimetric Assays.- Functional Nucleic Acid Sensors as Screening Tools.- Nucleic Acids for Computation.- DNAzymes in DNA Nanomachines and DNA Analysis.