Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 5, 2025
Label-free Single Molecule Detection Using Microtoroid Optical Resonators
Published on: December 29, 2015
A compact fiber-integrated optofluidic platform for highly specific microRNA Förster resonance energy transfer
Hongtao Feng1, Lin Liu1, Yi Chen1
1CAS Key Laboratory of Health Informatics, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China. yan.chen@siat.ac.cn zw.jin@siat.ac.cn.
Abstract:
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have attracted extensive interest as promising biomarkers for the profiling of diseases. However, quantitative measurement of miRNAs presents a significant challenge in biochemical studies. In this work, we developed an innovative optofluidic platform to perform a rapid, simple, quantitative and high-specificity miRNA assay using the Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) principle. A novel three-way junction FRET probe was proposed to enable rapid and enzyme-free miRNA detection. Using this platform, we performed one-step, amplification-free miRNA detection with simple device operation and achieved miRNA identification at a low concentration. The detection system could achieve high specificity for discrimination of three-base mismatches, and the sample volume was significantly reduced, favorable for low-level miRNA detection in material-limited samples. The establishment of a compact, low-cost, highly sensitive and selective miRNA analysis platform provides a valuable tool for point-of-care diagnosis.
