A new fluorescence turn-on nanobiosensor for the detection of micro-RNA-21 based on a DNA–gold nanocluster

Abstract

In this study, DNA/gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) were used to develop an AuNC-based turn-on fluorescence probe for the analysis of mi-RNA-21, which is a potential screening biomarker for cancer detection. AuNCs on a DNA scaffold were prepared through a one-pot wet-chemical route and evaluated by transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering. Experiments revealed that the fluorescence intensity of the DNA-AuNCs showed a gradual increase with the addition of the target species in a concentration range from 1pM to 10 nM. The method had a detection limit of 0.7 pM and was able to discriminate the target species from mismatched mi-RNAs very efficiently. The method was used for the determination of mi-RNA spiked human plasma samples, and was evaluated as a promising nanobiosensor for application in the selective detection of mi-RNA in various biomedical and clinical tests.

A highly sensitive miR-195 nanobiosensor for early detection of Parkinson’s disease

“…These miRNA electrochemical nanobiosensors can be implied for the quantification of different miRNAs for detection of different diseases, such as lung cancer [31], breast cancer [24], gastric cancer [32], glioma [33], Alzheimer [34], etc. But, beside the electrochemical methods, there are other types of high-performance nanobiosensors such as fluorescent methods which can be applied for miRNA quantification and responded very well [35][36][37][38].…”

Fluorescent Gold Nanoclusters for Biosensor and Bioimaging Application

“…Hosseini et al showed a fluorescence turn-on biosensor for the detection of microRNA [29]. AuNCs were synthesized by templated DNA, containing the complementary sequence of target microRNA and two cytosine rich sequence fragments at the 3 and 5 ends.…”

Rare-Earth Eu3+/Gold Nanocluster Ensemble-Based Fluorescent Photoinduced Electron Transfer Sensor for Biomarker Dipicolinic Acid Detection

“…Gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) have become a hot topic for the current nanoscience research because they have a broad application prospect in many fields including sensing, biological imaging, catalysis, and electronic devices. − AuNCs typically comprise several to hundreds of atoms with sizes approaching the Fermi wavelength of the conduction electrons, leading to the emergence of unexpected strong photoluminescence. , As a new kind of fluorescent nanomaterials, AuNCs have many distinct features such as simple synthesis, easy modification, good water dispersibility, low toxicity, good compatibility, and excellent stability. Based on their unique optical properties, AuNCs as robust and promising fluorescent probes have been frequently used for the determination of numerous analytes like ions, , small molecules, , enzymes, − nucleic acids, cancer cells, and so on. However, most of the AuNC-related sensors were fabricated via fluorescence quenching (turn-off), which are comparatively less sensitive than turn-on sensors.…”

“…16,17 As a new kind of fluorescent nanomaterials, AuNCs have many distinct features such as simple synthesis, easy modification, good water dispersibility, low toxicity, good compatibility, and excellent stability. Based on their unique optical properties, AuNCs as robust and promising fluorescent probes have been frequently used for the determination of numerous analytes like ions, 18,19 small molecules, 20,21 enzymes, 22−24 nucleic acids, 25 cancer cells, 26 and so on. However, most of the AuNC-related sensors were fabricated via fluorescence quenching (turn-off), which are comparatively less sensitive than turn-on sensors.…”