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Updated: May 4, 2026
MicroRNA Amplification and Recognition through Locked-nucleic-acid In situ Hybridization as a Novel Detection and Quantification Method
Published on: October 7, 2025
Visual detection of microRNA with lateral flow nucleic acid biosensor
Xuefei Gao1, Hui Xu2, Meenu Baloda2
1Research Center for Bioengineering and Sensing Technology, University of Science & Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, PR China; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58105, USA.
We developed a low-cost DNA-gold nanoparticle biosensor for rapid visual detection of microRNA-215. This method offers a simple and specific approach for detecting microRNA in biological samples, showing promise for disease diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Nanotechnology
- Molecular Diagnostics
Background:
- MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are crucial biomarkers in various diseases.
- Accurate and rapid detection of specific miRNAs is essential for early diagnosis and treatment monitoring.
- Existing miRNA detection methods can be complex, time-consuming, and expensive.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel, low-cost, and rapid biosensor for visual detection of microRNA-215.
- To utilize DNA-gold nanoparticle (DNA-GNP) conjugates for enhanced sensitivity and specificity.
- To demonstrate the applicability of the biosensor in biological samples, including cell lysates.
Main Methods:
- A lateral flow nucleic acid biosensor was designed using DNA-GNP based probes.
- Sandwich-type hybridization assays were employed, capturing miRNA-215 between specific DNA probes.
- Visual detection was achieved through the accumulation of GNPs on the test zone of the lateral flow device.
Main Results:
- The developed biosensor achieved a low detection limit of 60 pM for miRNA-215 in aqueous solutions.
- The biosensor successfully detected miRNA-215 directly from A549 cell lysate.
- A detection limit of 0.148 million cells was established for miRNA-215 detection in cell samples.
Conclusions:
- The DNA-GNP lateral flow biosensor provides a simple, rapid, specific, and cost-effective method for miRNA detection.
- The biosensor demonstrates significant potential for clinical applications and biomedical diagnosis of malignant diseases.
- This approach simplifies sample treatment and enables direct detection in complex biological matrices.
