Rationally designed molecular beacons for bioanalytical and biomedical applications

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology and Biomedicine
• Molecular Engineering
• Nucleic Acid Chemistry

Background:

• Nucleic acids possess unique structures and functions for biomedical applications.
• Nucleic acid probes, like molecular beacons (MBs), are crucial for biosensing, bioimaging, and therapy.
• MBs are fluorescently labeled dsDNA probes with stem, loop, and reporter components.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review advances in bioanalytical and biomedical applications of rationally designed MBs.
• To discuss improvements in MB components (stem, loop, reporter).
• To highlight current and emerging applications of MBs in biosensing, bioimaging, and therapy.

Main Methods:

• Review of literature on nucleic acid probe development and applications.
• Analysis of MB design principles, including stem, loop, and reporter optimization.
• Survey of MB integration with targeting ligands and drugs for theranostics.

Main Results:

• MBs offer predictable design, reproducible synthesis, and built-in signal transduction.
• Resonance energy transfer (RET) enhances MB sensitivity, response time, and universality.
• MBs show promise in homogeneous solution and solid-surface biosensors.

Conclusions:

• Rationally designed MBs are powerful tools for biosensing, bioimaging, and therapy.
• MBs facilitate advancements in chemical sensing, environmental monitoring, and biological imaging.
• Functionalized MBs are expected to drive innovation in biological and medical research and applications.