PAGE-based analysis of Aptamers. TBE denaturing polyacrylamide gels were prepared from a denaturing 20% polyacrylamide stock solution and TBE buffer, with the final concentrations of polyacrylamide at 15%. The gels were polymerised by addition of 5 μL TEMED (1 μL/mL of gel), followed by APS 5 μL (40% stock concentration). The solution was mixed thoroughly and poured between glass plates with 0.75 mm spacers, followed by insertion of a 0.75 mm comb. The gel was then left to fully polymerise. Approximately 80% of the cassette was filled with TBE buffer. The comb was removed after polymerisation and the wells were flushed with deionised water, and then buffer. 10 μL at 20 nM of each aptamer sample in water was prepared along with 10 μL urea (8 M). 20 µL of each sample was loaded onto the polyacrylamide gel. All gels were run at 300 V, 15 mA, for 60 minutes. Gels were stained in Stains-All prepared in isopropanol-tris buffer, for over an hour. The gels were then rinsed to remove excess stain using water before being imaged on an Epsom scanner.