title: Nanotechnology-based strategies for the detection and quantification of microRNA.
abstract: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important regulators of gene expression, and many pathological conditions, including cancer, are characterized by altered miRNA expression levels. Therefore, accurate and sensitive quantification of miRNAs may result in correct disease diagnosis establishing these small noncoding RNA transcripts as valuable biomarkers. Aiming at overcoming some limitations of conventional quantification strategies, nanotechnology is currently providing numerous significant alternatives to miRNA sensing. In this review an up-to-date account of nanotechnology-based strategies for miRNA detection and quantification is given. The topics covered are: nanoparticle-based approaches in solution, sensing based on nanostructured surfaces, combined nanoparticle/surface sensing approaches, and single-molecule approaches.
authors.affiliation: Center for Biomolecular Nanotechnologies@UniLe, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Via Barsanti, 73010 Arnesano (Lecce) (Italy).
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Degliangeli
authors.forename: Pier Paolo
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Pompa
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fiammengo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D046888:Tissue Array Analysis / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs
keywords: RNA; RNA recognition; analytical methods; nanostructures; nanotechnology