Graphene fluorescence switch-based cooperative amplification: a sensitive and accurate method to detection microRNA.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play significant roles in a diverse range of biological progress and have been regarded as biomarkers and therapeutic targets in cancer treatment. Sensitive and accurate detection of miRNAs is crucial for better understanding their roles in cancer cells and further validating their function in clinical diagnosis. Here, we developed a stable, sensitive, and specific miRNAs detection method on the basis of cooperative amplification combining with the graphene oxide (GO) fluorescence switch-based circular exponential amplification and the multimolecules labeling of SYBR Green I (SG). First, the target miRNA is adsorbed on the surface of GO, which can protect the miRNA from enzyme digest. Next, the miRNA hybridizes with a partial hairpin probe and then acts as a primer to initiate a strand displacement reaction to form a complete duplex. Finally, under the action of nicking enzyme, universal DNA fragments are released and used as triggers to initiate next reaction cycle, constituting a new circular exponential amplification. In the proposed strategy, a small amount of target miRNA can be converted to a large number of stable DNA triggers, leading to a remarkable amplification for the target. Moreover, compared with labeling with a 1:1 stoichiometric ratio, multimolecules binding of intercalating dye SG to double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) can induce significant enhancement of fluorescence signal and further improve the detection sensitivity. The extraordinary fluorescence quenching of GO used here guarantees the high signal-to-noise ratio. Due to the protection for target miRNA by GO, the cooperative amplification, and low fluorescence background, sensitive and accurate detection of miRNAs has been achieved. The strategy proposed here will offer a new approach for reliable quantification of miRNAs in medical research and early clinical diagnostics.