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Updated: Jan 29, 2026
12:01
Quantification and Size-profiling of Extracellular Vesicles Using Tunable Resistive Pulse Sensing
Published on: October 19, 2014
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Amplification-Free and Label-Free Multiplexed Profiling of Extracellular Vesicle-Derived MicroRNA via Micropore
Wookyoung Jang1, Chang-Woo Song2,3, Jinhwa Hong4
1Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea.
ACS Sensors
|January 28, 2026
Summary
This study introduces a novel platform for detecting extracellular vesicle microRNAs using peptide nucleic acid-functionalized hydrogel barcodes. This method offers sensitive, label-free detection of cancer-related microRNAs for potential on-site diagnostics.
Area of Science:
- Biomarker Discovery
- Nanotechnology for Diagnostics
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Extracellular vesicle (EV)-derived microRNAs (miRNAs) show promise as cancer biomarkers.
- Current detection methods (RT-qPCR, microarray) require complex amplification and labeling, hindering on-site diagnostics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel, amplification- and label-free platform for detecting EV-miRNAs.
- To utilize peptide nucleic acid (PNA)-functionalized hydrogel barcodes for sensitive and specific miRNA detection.
- To assess the platform's potential for clinical application in breast cancer diagnosis.
Main Methods:
- Development of a micropore sensing platform using PNA-functionalized hydrogel barcodes.
- Detection of breast cancer-related miRNAs (miR-21, let-7a) via direct electrical signal analysis.
- Implementation of multiplexed detection by designing geometrical codes of hydrogel particles.
- Validation using plasma samples from breast cancer patients and healthy donors.
Main Results:
- Achieved femtomolar sensitivity (481 and 551 fM) for miR-21 and let-7a detection without amplification or labeling.
- Demonstrated high specificity and practical recovery rates for multiplexed miRNA detection.
- Successfully differentiated miRNA expression patterns between breast cancer patients and healthy donors.
Conclusions:
- The PNA-functionalized hydrogel barcode platform enables sensitive, label-free, and multiplexed detection of EV-miRNAs.
- This technology holds significant potential for developing on-site diagnostic systems for diseases like cancer.
- The assay demonstrated clinical utility in distinguishing breast cancer patients from healthy individuals based on plasma EV-miRNA profiles.
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