RNA is an important information and functional molecule. It can respond to the regulation of life processes and is also a key molecule in gene expression and regulation. Therefore, RNA detection technology has been widely used in many fields, especially in disease diagnosis, medical research, genetic engineering and other fields. However, the current RT-qPCR for RNA detection is complex, costly and requires the support of professional technicians, resulting in it not having great potential for rapid application in the field. PCR-free techniques are the most attractive alternative. They are a low-cost, simple operation method and do not require the support of large instruments, providing a new concept for the development of new RNA detection methods. This article reviews current PCR-free methods, overviews reported RNA biosensors based on electrochemistry, SPR, microfluidics, nanomaterials and CRISPR, and discusses their challenges and future research prospects in RNA detection.
Keywords: PCR-free; RNA detection; biosensor; nanomaterial.