A simple and enzyme-free method for sensitive p53 analysis based on DNAzyme-mediated signal amplification

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Molecular Biology
• Biosensor Technology

Background:

• Accurate detection of tumorigenesis is crucial.
• Existing biosensors often lack simplicity or accuracy.
• The p53 gene is a key indicator in cancer development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel, sensitive, and enzyme-free fluorescent biosensor for p53 gene detection.
• To establish a platform for tumorigenesis analysis with potential for point-of-care applications.

Main Methods:

• Utilized proximity ligation-mediated catalytic hairpin assembly.
• Incorporated DNAzyme-assisted signal amplification for fluorescence.
• Designed a novel fluorescent assay for p53 gene detection.

Main Results:

• Achieved sensitive detection of the p53 gene with a limit of detection as low as 0.23 fM.
• Demonstrated a linear reaction range from 1 fM to 1 nM.
• Validated the method using clinical samples with a favorable recovery rate.

Conclusions:

• The developed fluorescent biosensor is simple, accurate, and highly sensitive for p53 gene detection.
• The enzyme-free, amplified signal approach shows great potential for tumorigenesis analysis.
• The versatile platform can be adapted for detecting various targets, enabling point-of-care testing.