A label-free electrochemical biosensor for microRNA detection based on apoferritin-encapsulated Cu nanoparticles

作者：Wang, Mo; Yin, Huanshun; Fu, Zhengliang; Guo, Yunlong; Wang, Xinxu; Zhou, Yunlei^*; Ai, Shiyun

来源：Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry, 2014, 18(10): 2829-2835.

DOI：10.1007/s10008-014-2531-y

• Electrochemical biosensor
• miRNA-159a
• Label-free detection
• Cu-apoferritin

MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a class of small endogenous nonprotein-coding RNAs, regulate a wide range of biological processes, and their abnormal expressions are related to the growth and development of plants. Thus, a simple, rapid, and highly sensitive assay for miRNA detection is of great significance. In this work, a label-free and ultrasensitive assay for miRNA detection using protein cage nanoparticles has been developed. Apoferritin-encapsulated Cu nanoparticles (Cu-apoferritin) could be immobilized on the electrode through special reaction between amino and carboxyl. Hybridization event between the probe DNA and the target miRNA-159a is confirmed by electrochemical oxidation signal after Cu released into the detection buffer by adjusting the pH. This assay is highly selective and sensitive with a low detection limit of 3.5 fM. Moreover, the developed method can even discriminate single-base mismatched strand between the complementary targets. The effect of abscisic acid on the expression level of miRNA-159a in Arabidopsis thaliana seeds was also investigated.

• 出版日期2014-10
• 单位山东农业大学