An Interfacial Affinity Interaction-Based Method for Detecting HOTAIR lncRNA in Cancer Plasma Samples

Long non-coding RNA Homeobox transcript antisense intergenic RNA (HOTAIR) is recognized as a participant in different processes of normal cell development. Aberrant overexpression of HOTAIR contributes to the initiation, growth, and invasiveness of ovarian cancer. Using the affinity interaction of target HOTAIR lncRNA sequences towards a screen-printed gold electrode (SPE-Au), herein we report on a novel, rapid and simple method to detect HOTAIR sequences. HOTAIR lncRNA sequences were first extracted from ovarian cancer cell lines and patient plasma samples and were magnetically captured and purified by complimentary capture probe-functionalized magnetic beads. Isolated target HOTAIR lncRNAs were directly adsorbed onto unmodified screen-printed gold electrodes (SPE-Au) for direct quantification with [Fe(CN)6]3−/4− redox couple. Our assay achieved a linear dynamic range of 100 nM and 1 pM for detecting pre-clinical model HOTAIR lncRNA samples (%RSD ≤ 5%, for n = 3) and was highly specific, showing clear distinction between HOTAIR lncRNA targets and non-specific miR-891 and miR-486 (100 nM) (%RSD ≤ 5%, for n = 3). The method was tested using ovarian cancer-specific cell lines (SKOV3 and OVCAR3) and mesothelial cell line (MeT-5A)-derived lncRNAs. The analytical performance of our method was validated using RT-qPCR. Finally, the method was tested using clinical samples from ovarian cancer patients and the resulting electrochemical responses show a clear distinction between the ovarian carcinoma and benign samples.

Protein recognition-initiated exponential amplification reaction (PRIEAR) and its application in clinical diagnosis

The isothermal exponential amplification technology have rarely been fabricated as the universal sensing platform for the detection of various proteins. To broaden its application, we here developed a strategy named protein recognition-initiated exponential amplification reaction (PRIEAR) using protein recognition to induce the DNA assembly which converts protein recognition events into ssDNA amplicons and combining two-stage amplification to achieve exponential amplification technology. Taking advantage of this principle, diverse biomarkers can be quantified at sub-picomolar concentrations in the homogenous manner, making the PRIEAR suitable for clinical practice. Therefore, this strategy can expand the powerful isothermal exponential amplification technology to protein targets and thus provide a new toolbox into the clinical and biomedical applications.

A signal conversion system using binding-induced strand displacement for disease biomarker assay

Using the principle of binding-induced DNA strand displacement (BINSD), a DNAzyme-powered nanomachine biosensor for multiple biomarkers via magnetic beads-based signal conversion was designed. This sensor can convert multiple biomarker recognition into release of predesigned output nucleic acids tagged with streptavidin proteins (SA-DNA) for activation of DNA nanomachines. In general, we adopted complementary base pairing rules and affinity ligand specific recognition, and three types of signal conversion systems were constructed that realized universal, sensitive, accurate, and specific detection of multiple biomarkers. Taking the advantage of the strong anti-interference capability of magnetic separation, this strategy could be used for detection of various biomarkers in clinical practice.

RNA chaperone assisted intramolecular annealing reaction towards oligouridylated RNA detection in cancer cells

Proximity induced intramolecular nucleotide strand displacement, which can be simply performed in a single tube or in a complex cellular environment, is one of the key mechanisms for the detection of biological targets, especially for significant genetic molecules. The host factor for RNA phage Qb replication (Hfq), with two distinct single stranded RNA binding sites, has excellent properties as an affinity ligand in a proximity induced reaction. In this research, a versatile RNA chaperone-Hfq assisted RNA annealing strategy for the sensitive detection of the intermediate product, oligouridylated RNA, in a genetic regulation process was developed. Benefiting from the high binding affinity of Hfq for the probe and the target, the sensitive determination of oligouridylated RNA in cell lysis and human cervical cancer (HeLa) cells was successfully achieved. This study has also revealed that the Hfq assisted RNA annealing strategy can be further extended and applied in specific microRNA analysis, and RNA related tumorigenicity and disease diagnosis.

Rapid Detection of Drugs in Human Plasma Using a Small-Molecule-Linked Hybridization Chain Reaction

Rapid detection and quantification of pharmaceutical drugs directly in human plasma is of major importance for the development of relevant point-of-care testing devices. Here, we report a method for detection and quantification of small molecules in human plasma. An assay employing a small molecule-linked hybridization chain reaction (HCR) has been devised for the detection of the pharmaceutically relevant drugs digoxin (Dig) and methotrexate (MTX). Double modification by small molecule ligands on the initiator strand act as sites to control the rate of the HCR. Upon protein binding to the modified initiator strand, the HCR is greatly inhibited. If the protein is preincubated with a sample containing the small molecule analyte, the protein binding site is occupied by the analyte and the initiator strand will initiate the HCR. This enables efficient detection and quantification of small-molecule analytes in nanomolar concentration even in 50% human plasma within 4 min. Thus, the rapidity and simplicity of this assay has potential for point-of-care testing.

Affinity Binding-Induced Hg2+ Release and Quantum Dot Doping for General, Label-Free, and Homogenous Fluorescence Protein Assay

Herein, a general protein conversion and analysis strategy was developed for homogeneous, label-free, and sensitive protein detection, on the basis of the affinity binding-induced Hg²⁺ release for protein conversion, and the succeeding Hg²⁺ doping-induced ZnSe quantum dot (QD) photoluminescence for signal readout. Two DNA motifs were designed, each of which was conjugated with a protein-specific recognition ligand. The mercury ions were initially introduced into one DNA motif by T-Hg²⁺-T interaction. The Hg²⁺ releasing was then accomplished after protein recognition-initiated strand exchange reaction between two DNA motifs. Then, the simultaneous incorporation of the released Hg²⁺ into ZnSe QD resulted in a doping-dependent fluorescence emission at 560 nm correlated with protein analysis. The protein assay is outperformed only by a simple one-step mixing operation but no separation or washing steps. Also, the use of doped QD as a fluorogenic reporter can avoid the fluorophore and/or quencher labeling, and eliminate complex DNA manipulation procedures for signal readout or amplification involved in most existing nucleic acid-based protein conversion and analysis methods. The versatile and sensitive detection toward multivalent proteins was verified with the detection limits achieved at 0.034 nM for anti-Dig antibody, 0.012 nM for streptavidin, and 0.025 nM for thrombin. Thus, it shows great promise for protein analysis to accommodate the applications in disease diagnosis, biomarker screening, and clinical medicine.

Proximity aptasensor for protein detection based on an enzyme-free amplification strategy

A novel electrochemical aptasensor for the detection of trace protein is proposed based on proximity binding-induced strand displacement and hybridization chain reaction. This method is proven to be highly selective and has potential practical utility, and offers new opportunities for the convenient detection of proteins with an enzyme-free amplification process.

A Highly Sensitive Detection System based on Proximity-dependent Hybridization with Computer-aided Affinity Maturation of a scFv Antibody

The hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a critical health problem worldwide, and HBV preS1 is an important biomarker for monitoring HBV infection. Previously, we found that a murine monoclonal antibody, mAb-D8, targets the preS1 (aa91-107) fragment of HBV. To improve its performance, we prepared the single-chain variable region of mAb-D8 (scFvD8) and constructed the three-dimensional structure of the scFvD8-preS1 (aa91-107) complex by computer modelling. The affinity of scFvD8 was markedly increased by the introduction of mutations L96Tyr to Ser and H98Asp to Ser. Furthermore, a highly sensitive immunosensor was designed based on a proximity-dependent hybridization strategy in which the preS1 antigen competitively reacts with an antibody labelled with DNA, resulting in decreased proximity-dependent hybridization and increased electrochemical signal from the Fc fragment, which can be used for the quantisation of preS1. The results showed a wide detection range from 1 pM to 50 pM with a detection limit of 0.1 pM. The sensitivity and specificity of this immunosensor in clinical serum samples were 100% and 96%, respectively. This study provides a novel system based on proximity-dependent hybridization and the scFv antibody fragment for the rapid quantisation of antigens of interest with a high sensitivity.

A nonenzymatic DNA nanomachine for biomolecular detection by target recycling of hairpin DNA cascade amplification

Synthetic enzyme-free DNA nanomachine performs quasi-mechanical movements in response to external intervention, suggesting the promise of constructing sensitive and specific biosensors. Herein, a smart DNA nanomachine biosensor for biomolecule (such as nucleic acid, thrombin and adenosine) detection is developed by target-assisted enzyme-free hairpin DNA cascade amplifier. The whole DNA nanomachine system is constructed on gold nanoparticle which decorated with hundreds of locked hairpin substrate strands serving as DNA tracks, and the DNA nanomachine could be activated by target molecule toehold-mediated exchange on gold nanoparticle surface, resulted in the fluorescence recovery of fluorophore. The process is repeated so that each copy of the target can open multiplex fluorophore-labeled hairpin substrate strands, resulted in amplification of the fluorescence signal. Compared with the conventional biosensors of catalytic hairpin assembly (CHA) without substrate in solution, the DNA nanomachine could generate 2-3 orders of magnitude higher fluorescence signal. Furthermore, the DNA nanomachine could be used for nucleic acid, thrombin and adenosine highly sensitive specific detection based on isothermal, and homogeneous hairpin DNA cascade signal amplification in both buffer and a complicated biomatrix, and this kind of DNA nanomachine could be efficiently applied in the field of biomedical analysis.

Proximity hybridization-mediated isothermal exponential amplification for ultrasensitive electrochemical protein detection

In this study, we fabricated a novel electrochemical biosensing platform on the basis of target-triggered proximity hybridization-mediated isothermal exponential amplification reaction (EXPAR) for ultrasensitive protein analysis. Through rational design, the aptamers for protein recognition were integrated within two DNA probes. Via proximity hybridization principle, the affinity protein-binding event was converted into DNA assembly process. The recognition of protein by aptamers can trigger the strand displacement through the increase of the local concentrations of the involved probes. As a consequence, the output DNA was displaced, which can hybridize with the duplex probes immobilized on the electrode surface subsequently, leading to the initiation of the EXPAR as well as the cleavage of duplex probes. Each cleavage will release the gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) binding sequence. With the modification of G-quadruplex sequence, electrochemical signals were yielded by the AuNPs through oxidizing 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine in the presence of H₂O₂. The study we proposed exhibited high sensitivity toward platelet-derived growth factor BB (PDGF-BB) with the detection limit of 52 fM. And, this method also showed great selectivity among the PDGF isoforms and performed well in spiked human serum samples.

Fluorescent aptasensor for antibiotic detection using magnetic bead composites coated with gold nanoparticles and a nicking enzyme

Antibiotic abuse has been bringing serious pollution in water, which is closely related to human health. It is desirable to develop a new strategy for antibiotic detection. To address this problem, a sensitive fluorescent aptasensor for antibiotic detection was developed by utilizing gold nanoparticles modified magnetic bead composites (AuNPs/MBs) and nicking enzyme. AuNPs/MBs were synthesized with the help of polyethylenimine (PEI). The prepared AuNPs/MBs acted as dual-functional scaffolds that owned excellent magnetic separation capacity and strong covalent bio-conjugation. The non-specifically absorbed aptamers in AuNPs/MBs were less than that in MBs. Hence, the fluorescent aptasensor based on AuNPs/MBs show a better signal to background ratio than that based on carboxyl modified magnetic beads (MBs). In this work, ampicillin was employed as a model analyte. In the presence of ampicillin, the specific binding between ampicillin and aptamer induced structure-switching that led to the release of partial complementary DNA (cDNA) of aptamer. Then, the released cDNA initiated the cycle of nicking enzyme assisted signal amplification (NEASA). Therefore, a large amount of taqman probes were cleaved and fluorescence signal was amplified. The prepared fluorescent aptasensor bring sensitive detection in range of 0.1-100 ng mL^-1 with the limit of detection of 0.07 ng mL^-1. Furthermore, this aptasensor was also successfully applied in real sample detection with acceptable accuracy. The fluorescent aptasensor provides a promising method for efficient, rapid and sensitive antibiotic detection.

Exonuclease-assisted target recycling amplification for label-free chemiluminescence assay and molecular logic operations

A versatile exonuclease-assisted target recycling amplification strategy is demonstrated to achieve label-free chemiluminescence detection of DNA and construction of a series of two-input molecular logic gates.

Highly effective molecule converting strategy based on enzyme-free dual recycling amplification for ultrasensitive electrochemical detection of ATP

An enzyme-free and highly effective molecule converting strategy was described for the sensitive electrochemical detection of ATP based on target-driven catalytic hairpin assembly and Mg²⁺-dependent DNAzymes.

Kinetics of Proximity-Induced Intramolecular DNA Strand Displacement

Proximity-induced intramolecular DNA strand displacement (PiDSD) is one of the key mechanisms involved in many DNA-mediated proximity assays and protein-responsive DNA devices. However, the kinetic profile of PiDSD has never been systematically examined before. Herein, we report a systematic study to explore the kinetics of PiDSD by combining the uses of three DNA strand displacement techniques, including a binding-induced DNA strand displacement to generate PiDSD, an intermolecular DNA strand-exchange strategy to measure a set of key kinetic parameters for PiDSD, and a toehold-mediated DNA strand displacement to generate fluorescence signals for the real-time monitoring of PiDSD. By using this approach, we have successfully revealed the kinetic profiles of PiDSD, determined the enhanced local effective concentrations of DNA probes that are involved in PiDSD, and identified a number of key factors that influence the kinetics of PiDSD. Our study on PiDSD establishes knowledge and strategies that can be used to guide the design and operation of various DNA-mediated proximity assays and protein-triggered DNA devices.

Emerging techniques for ultrasensitive protein analysis

Many important biomarkers for devastating diseases and biochemical processes are proteins present at ultralow levels. Traditional techniques, such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), mass spectrometry, and protein microarrays, are often not sensitive enough to detect proteins with concentrations below the picomolar level, thus requiring the development of analytical techniques with ultrahigh sensitivities. In this review, we highlight the recent advances in developing novel techniques, sensors, and assays for ultrasensitive protein analysis. Particular attention will be focused on three classes of signal generation and/or amplification mechanisms, including the uses of nanomaterials, nucleic acids, and digital platforms.