Enhanced fluorescence detection of miRNA by means of Bloch surface wave-based biochips

We report on the use of biochips based on one-dimensional photonic crystals sustaining Bloch surface waves to specifically detect target miRNA that is characteristic of hemorrhagic stroke (miR-16-5p) at low concentration in a buffer solution. The biochips were functionalized with streptavidin and ssDNA oligonucleotides to enable miRNA detection. To discriminate the target miRNA from a non-specific control (miR-101a-3p), we made use of an optical platform developed to work both in label-free and fluorescence detection modes. We demonstrate that the limit of detection provided when operating in the fluorescence mode allows us to specifically detect the target miRNA down to 1 ng mL^-1 (140 pM), which matches the recommendations for diagnostic miRNA assays, 5 ng mL^-1. The low costs open the way towards the application of these disposable optical biochips based on 1DPC sustaining Bloch surface waves as a promising tool for early disease detection in a liquid biopsy format.