title: Direct detection of microRNA based on plasmon hybridization of nanoparticle dimers.
abstract: MicroRNAs (miRNA) are important for regulating a range of biochemical pathways. Abnormal levels of miRNA in cells or secreted into biological fluids have been identified in diseases. MiRNA can therefore be potential biomarkers for early disease diagnosis; however their detection and quantification are challenging. Herein we apply the sensing platform of discrete actuatable dimers for the detection of human miR-210 (hsa-miR-210-3p). The detection signal is a spectral blue shift in the hybridized plasmon mode as monitored by single-nanostructure spectroscopy. We investigate the specificity and detection limit of the platform and quantify miR-210 levels in RNA extracts of cells cultured under different oxygen tensions. In addition we demonstrate the feasibility of detection in complex media by examining miR-210 secreted in cell media. This sensing platform may be developed as a bioanalytical tool for validating miRNA profiles of biological fluids.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, ON, Canada M3J 1P3. jilchen@yorku.ca.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Elspeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: MacLachlan
authors.forename: Bach Kim
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: Guodong
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Chun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Jennifer I L
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D015374:Biosensing Techniques; D015687:Cell Hypoxia; D002460:Cell Line; D019281:Dimerization; D006801:Humans; D061925:Immobilized Nucleic Acids / Q000737:chemistry*; D057230:Limit of Detection; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000032:analysis*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization
chemical_list: D061925:Immobilized Nucleic Acids; C543800:MIRN210 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs