Application of electrochemical biosensors for the detection of microRNAs (miRNAs) related to cancer

Recently, molecular diagnoses have been demonstrated to be an extraordinary tool for the diagnosis and prognosis of various cancers. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) as new cancer biomarkers have opened new and differentiated clinical diagnostic windows. The applicability of electrochemical biosensors in detecting these biomarkers has been shadowed in many research. The optimization of these bioanalyses involves the use of special signal transducers and unique designed biorecognition elements. This review has considered the latest research (2021–2022) dedicated to electrochemical biosensing of miRNAs. Recently, special physicochemical properties of nanomaterials have been very effective in optimizing biosensors, and the diagnostic sensitivity of these biosensors has increased due to the possibility of optimizing desired molecular interaction (s). The categorization and review of these biosensors have been performed based on applied nanomaterials, miRNAs (analytes), type of diagnostic techniques and signal transducers, and real sample applicability. A review of previous research revealed that in 84% of these biosensors, nanomaterials were used to optimize the performance of diagnostic elements. In addition, the presence of gold-based nanomaterials has been widely reported. Evaluations also showed that miRNA-21 was the most followed analyte. Here, other essential and reportable achievements have also been presented. In conclusion, this review favors the comprehension of the different designs in miRNAs biosensors components and helps the reader find the novelties involved in diverse diagnosis mechanisms.