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Updated: May 1, 2026
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Identification of Circular RNAs using RNA Sequencing
Published on: November 14, 2019
12.7K
Visual enumeration of circRNA in serum using a biserrate DNA-modified AuNP SPR probe
Yuanzhao Shen1, Ran Wang1, Xin Zhou2,3,4
1Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Food Quality and Safety-State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base of Ministry of Science and Technology, Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, 210014, China.
The Analyst
|September 29, 2025
Summary
Researchers developed a DNA-modified gold nanoparticle platform for rapid circular RNA (circRNA) detection. This sensitive method achieves a 0.02 fM detection limit for circHECTD1 in 40 minutes without PCR.
Area of Science:
- Nanotechnology
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are crucial biomarkers for various diseases.
- Accurate and sensitive detection of circRNAs is essential for early diagnosis and treatment monitoring.
- Current detection methods, such as quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), can be time-consuming and require complex amplification steps.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel, rapid, and highly sensitive platform for circRNA detection.
- To utilize DNA-modified gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and dark-field microscopy (DFM) for circRNA analysis.
- To establish a cost-effective alternative to PCR-based methods for circRNA quantification.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of 60 nm biserrate DNA-modified AuNPs.
- Optimization of AuNP platform for enhanced stability and sensitivity.
- Detection of circHECTD1 using DFM.
- Comparison of AuNP platform sensitivity with qPCR.
Main Results:
- The developed AuNP platform demonstrated superior stability and sensitivity compared to other Au nanostructures.
- Achieved a detection limit of approximately 0.02 fM for circHECTD1 within 40 minutes.
- Showcased a ~100-fold improvement in sensitivity over qPCR for circHECTD1 detection.
- Validated the platform's capability for rapid circRNA analysis without PCR amplification.
Conclusions:
- The DNA-modified AuNP platform offers a fast, cost-effective, and highly sensitive method for circRNA detection.
- This approach significantly advances circRNA analysis, providing a promising tool for biomarker discovery and diagnostics.
- The study highlights the potential of nanotechnology in developing next-generation molecular diagnostic tools.
