Recent advances in the detection of multiple microRNAs

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of endogenous, noncoding, single-stranded RNA molecules with an average length of ~22 nucleotides. Various miRNAs play important roles in the processes of cell differentiation, biological development, and disease development. More often, these roles are collectively played by a group of miRNAs rather than a single miRNA. Analytical tools that only quantify a single miRNA are inadequate in meeting the needs of miRNA research. Therefore, based on different signal differentiation techniques in conjunction with nucleic acid amplification strategies, a variety of methods for simultaneous detection of multiple miRNAs have been developed. This article summarizes the latest progress in the simultaneous detection of multiple miRNAs, and discusses the applications of these methods. This review also provides some ideas for the further development, focusing on the signal amplification and discrimination strategies demonstrated by some methods, as well as the application and future developmental trends of these methods.