An integrated dual functional recognition/amplification bio-label for the one-step impedimetric detection of Micro-RNA-21

•Rapid (60 min) one-step detection of miRNA-21 in spiked serum.•Highly selective and sensitive (LOD 0.3 pM) impedimetric detection of miRNA-21.•Detection of miRNA-21 at concentration of clinical relevance.•Robust and versatile design of a nucleic acid biosensor.

Alteration in expression of miRNAs has been correlated with different cancer types, tumour stage and response to treatments. In this context, a structurally responsive oligonucleotide-based electrochemical impedimetric biosensor has been developed for the simple and sensitive detection of miRNA-21. A highly specific biotinylated DNA/LNA molecular beacon (MB) probe was conjugated with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) to create an integrated, dual function bio-label (biotin-MB-AuNPs) for both biorecognition and signal generation. In the presence of target miRNA-21, hybridisation takes place resulting in the “activation” of the biotin-MB; this event makes the biotin group, which was previously “protected” by the steric hindrance of the MB stem-loop structure, accessible. The activated biotin-MB-AuNPs/miRNA complexes become available for capture, via supramolecular interaction, onto a nentravidin-modified electrode for electrochemical transduction. The binding event results in a decrease of the charge transfer resistance at the working electrode/electrolyte interface. The biosensor responded linearly in the range 1-1000 pM of miRNA-21, with a limit of detection of 0.3 pM, good reproducibility (Relative Standard deviation (RSD) =3.3%) and high selectivity over other miRNAs (i.e. miRNA-221 and miRNA-205) sequences. Detection of miRNA-21 in spiked serum samples at clinically relevant levels (low pM range) was also demonstrated, thus illustrating the potential of the biosensor for point-of-care clinical applications. The proposed biosensor design, based on the combination of a neutravidin transducing surface and the dual-function biotin-MB-AuNPs bio-label, provides a simple and robust approach for detection of short-length nucleic acid targets, such as miRNAs.