Ultrasensitive electrochemical detection of miRNA based on polymerization signal amplification

The detection of trace tumor-related serum miRNA biomarkers is in great demand for the early diagnosis of cancer. Herein, for the first time, an electrochemical sensing platform based on atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) signal amplification strategy for ultrasensitive determination of the breast and prostate cancer marker miRNA-141 has been developed. The hairpin DNAs were immobilized on the benzoic acid modified electrode to capture the target miRNA-141, the recognition of miRNA-141 released thiol groups on the end of probes, followed by the association of ATRP initiators modified gold nanoparticles with thiol groups, and then triggered the polymerization on electrode surface, causing a great number of ferrocene (Fc) signal molecules grafted on the sensor interface. As a result, the electrochemical signal intensity of signal molecule has been greatly increased. The proposed biosensor has a linear range from 10 pM to 10 aM with a detection limit of 3.23 aM for miRNA-141, opening a new and promising path for ultrasensitive analysis of tumor-related miRNAs.