Bifunctional probe-assisted hybridization chain reaction for circular RNA detection and live-cell imaging

• Published in: Sensors and actuators. B, Chemical Vol. 378; p. 133145
• Main Authors: Jiao, Jin, Wang, Gang, Zou, Fangbo, Tang, Shi, Chen, Shuning, Miao, Peng, Jiao, Jianwei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.03.2023
• Subjects: Bifunctional probe; Biological samples; CircRNA; Hybridization chain reaction; Live-cell imaging; Bifunctional probe; Live-cell imaging; Hybridization chain reaction; CircRNA; Biological samples
• ISSN: 0925-4005; 1873-3077
• DOI: 10.1016/j.snb.2022.133145

Circular RNA (circRNA) is considered as a promising biomarker for various diseases owing to its unique functions and stable structure in biological circumstances. Nonetheless, homologous linear RNA always causes detection errors, posing a key challenge in effective circRNA assays for clinical applications. Herein, we present a novel method to directly analyze circRNA, eliminating homologous linear RNA interference. A dual-function circRNA-identifying hairpin (ih) probe is designed, which identifies target circRNA and initiates the subsequent hybridization chain reaction amplification. This method provides highly sensitive live-cell circRNA imaging capability and can directly monitor circRNA levels in biological samples, showing great promise for the analysis of low-abundant circRNA in clinical applications. [Display omitted] •A simple and reliable biosensor has been proposed for accurate analysis of circRNA.•This biosensor can be used without interference from homologous linear RNA.•This biosensor can sensitively image low abundant target circRNA in living cells.•This biosensor can effectively detect target circRNA in a variety of biological samples.