Highly-sensitive microRNA detection based on bio-bar-code assay and catalytic hairpin assembly two-stage amplification

Herein, a highly-sensitive microRNA (miRNA) detection strategy was developed by combining bio-bar-code assay (BBA) with catalytic hairpin assembly (CHA). In the proposed system, two nanoprobes of magnetic nanoparticles functionalized with DNA probes (MNPs-DNA) and gold nanoparticles with numerous barcode DNA (AuNPs-DNA) were designed. In the presence of target miRNA, the MNP-DNA and AuNP-DNA hybridized with target miRNA to form a "sandwich" structure. After "sandwich" structures were separated from the solution by the magnetic field and dehybridized by high temperature, the barcode DNA sequences were released by dissolving AuNPs. The released barcode DNA sequences triggered the toehold strand displacement assembly of two hairpin probes, leading to recycle of barcode DNA sequences and producing numerous fluorescent CHA products for miRNA detection. Under the optimal experimental conditions, the proposed two-stage amplification system could sensitively detect target miRNA ranging from 10 pM to 10 aM with a limit of detection (LOD) down to 97.9 zM. It displayed good capability to discriminate single base and three bases mismatch due to the unique sandwich structure. Notably, it presented good feasibility for selective multiplexed detection of various combinations of synthetic miRNA sequences and miRNAs extracted from different cell lysates, which were in agreement with the traditional polymerase chain reaction analysis. The two-stage amplification strategy may be significant implication in the biological detection and clinical diagnosis.