A specially designed DNA-assembled framework structure probe coupled with loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP)-DNA signal transducer for rapid and sensitive electrochemical detection of miRNA

Herein, a new DNA-assembled framework structure (DAFS) probe coupled with LAMP-DNA signal transducer is developed for rapid and sensitive detection of miRNA let-7a. The DAFS probe was formed via self-assembly of capture strand (P) and ferrocene-labelled DNA strands (P1, P2) and was immobilized via hybridization of P1 and P2 with the DNA strands tethered to electrode surfaces. On the other hand, forward primer (FP) of LAMP was hybridized with assistant strand (AS) attached on Au@Fe3O4 composite nanoparticles. After LAMP reaction started, the duplex FP:AS was separated to expose the AS. Then, with a facile magnetic separation, the exposed AS was collected and further cut by Mn2+, outputting the signal transducer T *. The DAFS probe could disas-semble by the T *in the presence of two hairpin DNA probes (H1, H2) and release the P1 and P2 into the solution, causing an electrochemical signal change for realizing sensitive detection of final target let-7a. The electro-chemical detection could complete within 50 min with a good linear relationship from 100 aM to 20 pM and a detection limit of 48 aM. Our biosensors performed well in human serum spiked with the let-7a and the let-7a extracts obtained from the human breast cancer cell (MCF-7).

Automated summary

In this study, a new DNA-assembled framework structure (DAFS) probe coupled with LAMP-DNA signal transducer was developed for rapid and sensitive detection of miRNA let-7a. The DAFS probe, formed via self-assembly, allowed for sensitive detection of let-7a with the help of magnetic separation and chemical cutting. Our biosensors performed well in experiments with human serum and human breast cancer cells.