Nanomaterials-Based Sensing Strategies for Electrochemical Detection of MicroRNAs

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play important functions in post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. They have been regarded as reliable molecular biomarkers for many diseases including cancer. However, the content of miRNAs in cells can be low down to a few molecules per cell. Thus, highly sensitive analytical methods for miRNAs detection are desired. Recently, electrochemical biosensors have held great promise as devices suitable for point-of-care diagnostics and multiplexed platforms for fast, simple and low-cost nucleic acid analysis. Signal amplification by nanomaterials is one of the most popular strategies for developing ultrasensitive assay methods. This review surveys the latest achievements in the use of nanomaterials to detect miRNAs with a focus on electrochemical techniques.

Novel and simple electrochemical biosensor monitoring attomolar levels of miRNA-155 in breast cancer

“…Biosensors are today a successful route towards POC testing, allowing fast results and a direct sample reading, without the need for transporting samples into the laboratory (Campuzano et al, 2014; Labib and Berezovski, 2015; Bohunicky and Mousa, 2011). Devices relying in electrochemical transduction are currently among the attractive biosensors reaching portability, accounting their simplicity, sensitivity, low cost, small size, rapidity of response, ease of use, and possibility of reading samples directly over a wide range of concentrations (Xia and Zhang, 2014). In general, these features of electrochemical biosensors depend of the recognition element immobilized on the transducer, which is responsible for interacting with the analyte in a selective mode (Choi et al, 2010; Grieshaber et al, 2008).…”

Avenues Toward microRNA Detection In Vitro: A Review of Technical Advances and Challenges

“…Immobilization of target miRNA or reporter on the transduction surfaces is one of the critical requirements for designing biosensors [88]. Recently, engineered nanomaterials have been integrated on electrode surfaces to improve the electrode reaction efficiency and further the sensitivity of biosensor due to their high stability, surface-to-volume ratio, conductivity, and biocompatibility [17,89]. Their high surface areas greatly enhance the enzyme-loading quantity, and their good conductivities partly facilitate the electron transfer from the enzyme redox center to the electrode [25].…”

“…Their high surface areas greatly enhance the enzyme-loading quantity, and their good conductivities partly facilitate the electron transfer from the enzyme redox center to the electrode [25]. For example, hairpin-modified AuNPs were used as the sensing unit to initiate CHA reaction, because they can generate several electroactive molecules and induce a great change in current [89,90]. Well-dispersed nitrogen-doped hollow carbon nanospheres with large pores (a carbon-based 3D material) were fabricated to improve the performance of a self-powered biosensor [25], and GO–AuNP hybrids were used to construct a novel SPR biosensor, because they can increase the available surface area for analyte binding and improve their electrical conductivity and electron mobility [91].…”

Therapeutic prospects of microRNAs in cancer treatment through nanotechnology

“…Various electrochemical nanobiosensors have been fabricated for detection or quantification of valuable miRNAs. The First electrochemical miRNA biosensor was described in 2006 [94]. Azimzadeh et al reviewed the role of nanotechnology in nanobiosensor development for application in microRNA detection [31].…”