Universal Fluorescence Biosensor Platform Based on Graphene Quantum Dots and Pyrene-Functionalized Molecular Beacons for Detection of MicroRNAs

A novel biosensor platform was developed for detection of microRNAs (miRNAs) based on graphene quantum dots (GQDs) and pyrene-functionalized molecular beacon probes (py-MBs). Pyrene was introduced to trigger specifically fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between GQDs and fluorescent dyes labeled on py-MBs, and the unique fluorescent intensity change produced a novel signal for detection of the target. The platform realized detection of miRNAs in a wide range from 0.1 nM to 200 nM with great discrimination abilities, as well as multidetection of different kinds of miRNAs, which paved a brand new way for miRNA detection based on GQDs.