Dual-palindrome-incorporated hand-in-hand self-linking bidirectional DNA amplifier within exogenous near-infrared light stimulation for high-performance imaging in living biosystems

• Published in: Talanta (Oxford) Vol. 292; p. 128003
• Main Authors: Zhang, Tian-Tian, Sun, Xiao-Ming, Chen, Wei-Lin, Chen, Xiao-Xue, Li, Cheng-Yu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.09.2025
• Subjects: biomarkers; Biosensing Techniques - methods; Biosensor; biosensors; diagnostic techniques; DNA; DNA - chemistry; DNA - genetics; DNA amplifier; Humans; Imaging; In vivo; Infrared Rays; Inverted Repeat Sequences; Living cells; luminescence; MicroRNAs - analysis; MicroRNAs - genetics; Near-infrared light; DNA amplifier; In vivo; Living cells; Near-infrared light; Biosensor; Imaging
• ISSN: 0039-9140; 1873-3573; 1873-3573
• DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2025.128003

Although the potency of DNA amplifiers-constructed biosensors for imaging disease biomarkers in living biosystems, they continue to face two challenges: (i) intricate multi-pathway amplification cascades in biosensing designs and (ii) suboptimal detection precision due to uncontrollable pre-activation during bio-delivery. In this contribution, we have brought the following viable resolutions. First, a catalytic hairpin assembly (CHA) routine is incorporated with a dual-palindrome that works like two pairs of hands to self-link CHA-amplified intermediate nucleic acids units, enabling a streamlined two-round signal intensification to enhance sensitivity. Thereafter, one DNA component is conducted with the insertion of a photocleavage-coupler, by which the biosensor can be precisely stimulated via exogenous 808 nm near-infrared (NIR) light-converted upconversion luminescence to recognize the analysis subjects in a controllable action. With the aim of conceptual presentation, this dual-palindrome-incorporated hand-in-hand self-linking bidirectional DNA amplifier stimulated by exogenous NIR light exhibits ultra-sensitive solution detection of various cancers-associated microRNA-155. More deeply, the biosensing toolbox can serve for high-performance imaging of low-abundance biomarkers at the real-word context of living cells and in vivo, boosting the advancement of DNA amplifiers in medical diagnostics. Dual-palindrome is incorporated to construct a hand-in-hand self-linking bidirectional DNA amplifier. Within exogenous near-infrared light stimulation, this biosensor is employed to conduct high-performance microRNA imaging in living biosystems. [Display omitted] •A hand-in-hand self-linking bidirectional DNA amplifier is constructed.•Exogenous near-infrared light is used to stimulate the DNA amplifier.•The biosensor exhibits ultra-sensitive detection competence for microRNA-155.•High-performance imaging in living cells and in vivo is presented.