Click Chemistry-Actuated Digital DNA Walker Confined on a Single Particle toward Absolute MicroRNA Quantification

Anal Chem. 2021 Jan 26;93(3):1620-1626. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.0c04073. Epub 2020 Dec 28.

Abstract

A versatile single magnetic nanoparticle (MNP)-confined, click chemistry-actuated digital DNA walker (ddWalker) machine is devised for the absolute quantification of microRNA (miRNA). This delicate ddWalker allows one target molecule to fix one DNA walking leg on a single MNP, following the Poisson statistics through a specific click chemical DNA ligation, which will initiate single molecule DNA walking to stepwise cleave the molecular beacon tracks strictly constrained on the leg-hold MNP without cross-particle reaction, fluorescently "lighting up" the exact MNP. Accordingly, the initial miRNA input can be digitally and faithfully reflected by the number of fluorescent-positive MNPs counted by a total internal reflection fluorescent microscope, enabling the absolute and precise miRNA quantification down to the femtomolar level without external calibration. This flexible ddWalker design provides a new digital signaling concept and elegantly expands the toolbox for digital biosensing.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biosensing Techniques
  • Click Chemistry
  • DNA / chemistry*
  • HCT116 Cells
  • Humans
  • Magnetite Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • MicroRNAs / analysis*
  • Particle Size
  • Surface Properties

Substances

  • Magnetite Nanoparticles
  • MicroRNAs
  • DNA