A versatile upconversion-based multimode lateral flow platform for rapid and ultrasensitive detection of microRNA towards health monitoring

• Published in: Biosensors & bioelectronics Vol. 252; p. 116135
• Main Authors: Chen, Cong, Hu, Songtao, Tian, Lulu, Qi, Manlin, Chang, Zhiyong, Li, Liang, Wang, Lin, Dong, Biao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier B.V 15.05.2024
• Subjects: biomarkers; biosensors; early diagnosis; energy transfer; fluorescence; gene expression; immune response; Lateral flow assay; lung neoplasms; microRNA; Multimode biosensor; nanoparticles; periodontitis; prediction; Surface-enhanced Raman scattering; Upconversion nanoparticles; Lateral flow assay; Multimode biosensor; Surface-enhanced Raman scattering; Upconversion nanoparticles
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2024.116135
• ISSN: 0956-5663; 1873-4235

MicroRNAs are small single-stranded RNA molecules associated with gene expression and immune response, suggesting their potential as biomarkers for health monitoring. Herein, we designed a novel upconversion-based multimode lateral flow assay (LFA) system to detect microRNAs in body fluids by simultaneously producing three unique signals within a detection strip. The core-shell Au-DTNB@Ag nanoparticles act as both the Raman reporters and acceptors, quenching fluorescence from upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs, NaYF4: Yb3+, Er3+) via the Förster resonance energy transfer mechanism. Using microRNA-21 as a representative analyte, the LFA system offers remarkable detection range from 2 nM to 1 fM, comparable to outcomes from signal amplification methods, due to the successful single-layer self-assembly of UCNPs on the NC membrane, which greatly enhances both the convenience and sensitivity of the LFA technique. Additionally, our proprietary fluorescence-Raman detection platform simplifies result acquisition by reducing procedural intricacies. The biosensor, when evaluated with diverse bodily fluids, showed remarkable selectivity and sustained stability. Importantly, our LFA biosensor effectively identified periodontitis and lung cancer patients from healthy subjects in genuine samples, indicating significant potential for disease prediction, early diagnosis, and progression tracking. This system holds promise as a multifunctional tool for various biomarker assays. •Ultrasensitive detection of microRNA-21without extra signal amplification process, spanning from 2 nM to 1 fM.•UCNPs are self-assembled on NC membrane, allowing the advantages of liquid-state and solid-state sensor combined in LFA.•Multi-mode lateral flow assay to achieve colorimetric, fluorescence, and SERS signals on the test line.•A specific fluorescence-Raman detection platform enables rapid and simple acquisition of results simultaneously.•Successfully application in authentic samples, distinguish periodontitis patients from normal individuals in saliva samples.