A CRET-Based Multicolor Sensing Nanoplatform for Simultaneously and Sensitively Visualizing Multiple Circulating MicroRNAs

Circulating microRNA (miRNAs) have been proven as potential biomarkers for disease diagnosis. Herein, this work reports the design of a chemiluminescence resonance energy transfer (CRET) based multicolor sensing nanoplatform with a portable smartphone as mini-detector for simultaneous and sensitive analysis of multiple circulating miRNAs. Universal multicomponent nucleic acid enzyme functionalized gold nanoparticle (MNAzyme@AuNP) nanoprobes activated by the addition of different target miRNAs were constructed. As a result, spherical nucleic acid enzyme (SNAzyme) with high catalytic activity for the luminol-H2O2 chemiluminescence or CRET reaction was produced. It enables the construction of a multicolor sensing nanoplatform for simultaneously visualizing multiple miRNAs based on chemiluminescence imaging arrays (CLIA). In this way, acute myocardial infarction (AMI) related biomarkers, miR-133a and miR-499, were detected with high sensitivity and selectivity in human serum.

Automated summary

This study reports the design of a CRET-based multicolor sensing nanoplatform with a portable smartphone as mini-detector for simultaneous and sensitive analysis of multiple circulating miRNAs. By constructing MNAzyme@AuNP nanoprobes and producing high catalytic activity SNAzyme, a multicolor sensing platform for visualizing multiple miRNAs was successfully achieved with high sensitivity and selectivity in detecting AMI-related biomarkers, miR-133a and miR-499, in human serum.