MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in a wide range of biological processes, and their aberrant expressions are associated with various diseases. The levels of miRNAs can be useful biomarkers for cellular events or disease diagnosis; thus, sensitive and selective detection of microRNAs is of great significance in understanding biological functions of miRNAs, early-phase diagnosis of cancers, and discovery of new targets for drugs. However, traditional approaches for the detection of miRNAs are usually laborious and time-consuming, with a low sensitivity. Here, we develop a simple, rapid, ultrasensitive colorimetric assay based on the combination of isothermal Exponential Amplification Reaction (EXPAR) and AuNP-labeled DNA probes for the detection of miRNAs (taking let-7a as a model analyte). In this assay, the presence of let-7a is converted to the reporter Y through EXPAR under isothermal conditions. The subsequent sandwich hybridization of the reporter Y with the AuNP-labeled DNA probes generates a red-to-purple color change. In other words, if the reporter Y is complementary to the AuNP-labeled DNA probes, the DNA-functionalized AuNPs will be aggregated, resulting in the change of solution color from red to purple/blue, while when the AuNP-labeled DNA probes are mismatched to the reporter Y, the solution remains red. This assay represents a simple, time-saving technique, and its results can be visually detected with the naked eye due to the colorimetric change. The method provides superior sensitivity, with a detection limit of 4.176 aM over a wide range from 1 nM to 1 aM under optimal conditions. The method also shows high selectivity for discriminating even single-nucleotide differences between let-7 miRNA family members. Notably, it is comparable to the most sensitive method reported to date, thus providing a promising alternative to standard approaches for the direct detection of let-7a miRNA. Importantly, through combination with specific templates, different miRNAs can be converted to the same reporter Y, which can hybridize with the same set of AuNP-labeled DNA probes to form sandwich hybrids. The color change of the solution can be observed in the presence of the target miRNA. This technique has potential as a routine method for assessing the levels of miRNAs, not only for let-7, but also for various miRNAs in the early phase of cancers. In addition, it can be a useful tool in biomedical research and clinical diagnosis, as well as diagnosis or surveillance programs in field conditions.
Keywords: AuNPs; colorimetric method; exponential amplification reaction (EXPAR); miRNAs.