Electrochemiluminescence detection of miRNA-21 based on dual signal amplification strategies: Duplex-specific nuclease-mediated target recycle and nicking endonuclease-driven 3D DNA nanomachine

DNA nanomachines have shown potential application in the construction of various biosensors. Here, an elec-trochemiluminescence biosensor for the sensitive detection of miRNA-21 were reported based on three-dimensional (3D) DNA nanomachine and duplex-specific nuclease (DSN)-mediated target recycle amplification strategy. First, the bipedal DNA walkers were obtained by DSN-mediated digestion reaction initiated by target miRNA-21.3D DNA tracks were prepared by modifying Fe3O4 magnetic beads (MBs) with ferrocene-labeled DNA (Fc-DNA). The produced DNA walkers autonomously moved along 3D DNA tracks powered by nicking endo-nuclease. During the movement, ferrocene-labeled DNA was cleaved, resulting in large amounts of Fc-labeled DNA fragments away from the MBs surface. Finally, the liberated Fc-labeled DNA fragments were dropped on the C-g-C3N4 modified electrode surface, leading to the quenching of C-g-C3N4 electrochemiluminescence (ECL). Benefiting from the dual amplification strategy of 3D DNA nanomachine and DSN-mediated target recycling, the developed ECL biosensor exhibited an excellent performance for miRNA-21 detection with a wide linear range of 10 fM to 10 nM and a low detection limit of 1.0 fM. This work offers a new thought for the application of DNA walkers in the construction of various biosensors.

Automated summary

A new electrochemiluminescence biosensor was developed for sensitive detection of miRNA-21 using a three-dimensional DNA nanomachine and duplex-specific nuclease (DSN)-mediated target recycle amplification strategy. The biosensor demonstrated excellent performance with a wide linear range and low detection limit, benefiting from the dual amplification strategy. This work provides a new approach for the application of DNA walkers in the construction of various biosensors.