Progress in cutting-edge microfluidic thermal swimming biosensing research

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) refer to vesicular vesicles with a double-layer membrane structure that detach from the cell membrane or are secreted by the cell, with diameters ranging from 40nm to 1000nm. They can transfer mRNAs from donor cells to recipient cells and directly regulate the protein expression of recipient cells. The analysis of mRNA in extracellular vesicles provides a new opportunity for non-invasive and rapid diagnosis of tumors.

The mRNA content of extracellular vesicles is extremely low and the detection program is complex. The research team of the National Center for Nanoscience has developed an in situ detection method for extracellular vesicle mRNA, which combines the FRET based DNA tetrahedron (FDT) based on F ö rster resonance energy transfer for effective internalization of extracellular vesicles and target gene detection, And size selective thermophoresis accumulation is used for the amplification of F ö rster resonance energy transfer (FRET) signals in extracellular vesicles. This DNA tetrahedron based thermal assay (DTTA) detects prostate specific antigen (PSA) in serum EVs by extracting ribonucleic acid and enzyme amplification, with a detection limit of 14 aM. DTTA showed that in the differentiation between prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia, extracellular vesicle PSA mRNA was superior to serum PSA protein (area under the curve: 0.93 vs 0.74; 42 cases). Recently, the research team published this study in the journal Nano Today, titled "Ultrasensitive detection of mRNA in extracellar vessels using DNA tetrahedron based thermal assay".

This technology research has established an ultra sensitive, fast, and enzyme free DTTA in situ detection method for extracellular vesicle PSA mRNA. When distinguishing between prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia patients, using prostate specific antigen genes as alternative biomarkers has better diagnostic accuracy than serum prostate specific antigen proteins. It may greatly expand the application of DNA nanostructure supported liquid biopsy.

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