Figure 1.

Working principle of switchable aptamer micelle flares. Aptamer switch probe and diacyllipid conjugates are self-assembled to form the nanostructure of micelle flares. In the absence of target, the aptamer switch probe maintains a loop-stem structure, and fluorescence is quenched because of the close proximity between fluorophore and quencher. Upon target binding, the conformation of switchable aptamer is altered, resulting in the restoration of fluorescence signal.