Nanopore-based detection of circulating microRNAs in lung cancer patients

• Published in: Nature nanotechnology Vol. 6; no. 10; pp. 668 - 674
• Main Authors: Wang, Yong, Zheng, Dali, Tan, Qiulin, Wang, Michael X., Gu, Li-Qun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 04.09.2011; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 639/925/352/2733; 692/699/67/1612; Chemistry and Materials Science; Female; Humans; Lung cancer; Lung Neoplasms - blood; Lung Neoplasms - diagnosis; Male; Materials Science; MicroRNAs - blood; Nanopores; Nanotechnology; Nanotechnology and Microengineering; Oligonucleotide Probes - chemistry; RNA, Neoplasm - blood
• ISSN: 1748-3387; 1748-3395
• DOI: 10.1038/nnano.2011.147

MicroRNAs are short RNA molecules that regulate gene expression, and have been investigated as potential biomarkers because their expression levels are correlated with various diseases. However, detecting microRNAs in the bloodstream remains difficult because current methods are not sufficiently selective or sensitive. Here, we show that a nanopore sensor based on the α-haemolysin protein can selectively detect microRNAs at the single molecular level in plasma samples from lung cancer patients without the need for labels or amplification of the microRNA. The sensor, which uses a programmable oligonucleotide probe to generate a target-specific signature signal, can quantify subpicomolar levels of cancer-associated microRNAs and can distinguish single-nucleotide differences between microRNA family members. This approach is potentially useful for quantitative microRNA detection, the discovery of disease markers and non-invasive early diagnosis of cancer. A biological nanopore is used to detect circulating microRNA in the plasma of lung cancer patients, offering a non-invasive method to screen and diagnose diseases.