Endogenous Enzyme Stimulation of Localized Catalytic DNA Assembly for High-Contrast microRNA Imaging and Reliable Evaluation of Drug Resistance

Localized DNA circuits have emerged as a powerful platform for real-time visualization of disease-associated biomolecules in living cells, enabling deeper insights into complex biological processes. However, their extensive applications have been limited by a low probe utilization efficiency and nonspecific background signals. Here, we present a cell-specifically triggered localized catalytic assembly (TCA) circuit designed for high-contrast, reliable imaging of microRNAs (miRNAs). The TCA system features a modular architecture in which an aptamer-mediated targeting module and an endogenously activated sensing module are integrated into a single multifunctional probe. This design enables sequential targeted delivery, target-induced probe activation, and localized sensing of the intracellular miRNA. The integrated strategy significantly improves the probe utilization efficiency and reaction kinetics while suppressing off-target background signals. As a result, it enables high-contrast, accurate imaging of miRNAs and precise discrimination between cancerous and normal cells. Furthermore, we demonstrate its utility in reliably assessing chemotherapy-induced drug resistance in cancer cells. Thus, the TCA circuit provides a robust platform for intracellular biomolecular monitoring and probing of drug-resistance-related molecular mechanisms, highlighting its potential applications in molecular diagnostics and precision medicine.