A Smartphone-Mediated "All-In-One" Biosensing Chip for Visual and Value-Assisted Detection

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Molecular Diagnostics
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• MicroRNA-141 (miRNA-141) is a potential biomarker for certain cancers.
• Accurate and accessible detection methods for miRNA-141 are crucial for early diagnosis.
• Existing detection techniques often require complex instrumentation and trained personnel.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a smartphone-mediated, self-powered biosensor for sensitive miRNA-141 detection.
• To integrate CRISPR/Cas12a technology with a novel nanozyme for enhanced signal amplification.
• To create a portable and visual sensing platform for real-time monitoring of tumor biomarkers.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a self-powered biosensor utilizing CRISPR/Cas12a and a gold-platinum-palladium decorated graphitic carbon nitride (AuPtPd@GDY) nanozyme.
• Employing the CRISPR/Cas12a system for specific recognition and cleavage of target miRNA-141.
• Utilizing the nanozyme's catalytic activity for signal amplification through cascade reactions, enabling both electrochemical and colorimetric detection.
• Integrating the biosensor with a smartphone for data processing and visualization.

Main Results:

• The biosensor achieved highly sensitive detection of miRNA-141 with limits of detection as low as 3.1 aM (electrochemical) and 15 aM (colorimetric).
• The AuPtPd@GDY nanozyme demonstrated efficient catalysis for signal amplification and enhanced conductivity.
• A dual-modal sensing system enabled both value-assisted and visual detection.
• A smartphone-mediated "all-in-one" biosensing chip facilitated real-time and intelligent monitoring.

Conclusions:

• The developed smartphone-mediated self-powered biosensor offers a novel, efficient, and portable platform for miRNA-141 detection.
• The integration of CRISPR/Cas12a and a multifunctional nanozyme provides a robust strategy for sensitive biomarker quantification.
• This approach paves the way for accessible visualization and portable detection of tumor biomarkers in clinical settings.