Analytical techniques for nucleic acid and protein detection with single-molecule sensitivity

Abstract Nucleic acids and proteins serve as crucial biomarkers used in the diagnosis, prognosis and therapy monitoring across various diseases. Traditionally, these biomarkers are identified at an ensemble level following the amplification of target or signaling molecules. However, these methods ha...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Soochul Shin, Juyoung Kim, Eunho Song, Sun Han, Sungchul Hohng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Publishing Group 2025-05-01
Series:Experimental and Molecular Medicine
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s12276-025-01453-w
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850137754647658496
author Soochul Shin
Juyoung Kim
Eunho Song
Sun Han
Sungchul Hohng
author_facet Soochul Shin
Juyoung Kim
Eunho Song
Sun Han
Sungchul Hohng
author_sort Soochul Shin
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Nucleic acids and proteins serve as crucial biomarkers used in the diagnosis, prognosis and therapy monitoring across various diseases. Traditionally, these biomarkers are identified at an ensemble level following the amplification of target or signaling molecules. However, these methods have limitations in addressing contemporary challenges in molecular diagnostics, such as low sensitivity, specificity, throughput and imprecise quantification. To overcome these limitations, various analytical techniques offering single-molecule sensitivity have been developed. Here we aim to provide a concise overview of historically notable and potentially promising analytical techniques to detect nucleic acids and proteins with single-molecule sensitivity. Our focus is on their potential in liquid biopsy, delineating their strengths and weaknesses, providing insights into their ability to revolutionize biomarker analysis and paving the way for more advanced technologies.
format Article
id doaj-art-0b6fdf76a10549dfa87bb39bbeb14934
institution OA Journals
issn 2092-6413
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Nature Publishing Group
record_format Article
series Experimental and Molecular Medicine
spelling doaj-art-0b6fdf76a10549dfa87bb39bbeb149342025-08-20T02:30:44ZengNature Publishing GroupExperimental and Molecular Medicine2092-64132025-05-0157593894910.1038/s12276-025-01453-wAnalytical techniques for nucleic acid and protein detection with single-molecule sensitivitySoochul Shin0Juyoung Kim1Eunho Song2Sun Han3Sungchul Hohng4Department of Physics and Astronomy, Institute of Applied Physics, Seoul National UniversityDepartment of Physics and Astronomy, Institute of Applied Physics, Seoul National UniversityDepartment of Physics and Astronomy, Institute of Applied Physics, Seoul National UniversityDepartment of Physics and Astronomy, Institute of Applied Physics, Seoul National UniversityDepartment of Physics and Astronomy, Institute of Applied Physics, Seoul National UniversityAbstract Nucleic acids and proteins serve as crucial biomarkers used in the diagnosis, prognosis and therapy monitoring across various diseases. Traditionally, these biomarkers are identified at an ensemble level following the amplification of target or signaling molecules. However, these methods have limitations in addressing contemporary challenges in molecular diagnostics, such as low sensitivity, specificity, throughput and imprecise quantification. To overcome these limitations, various analytical techniques offering single-molecule sensitivity have been developed. Here we aim to provide a concise overview of historically notable and potentially promising analytical techniques to detect nucleic acids and proteins with single-molecule sensitivity. Our focus is on their potential in liquid biopsy, delineating their strengths and weaknesses, providing insights into their ability to revolutionize biomarker analysis and paving the way for more advanced technologies.https://doi.org/10.1038/s12276-025-01453-w
spellingShingle Soochul Shin
Juyoung Kim
Eunho Song
Sun Han
Sungchul Hohng
Analytical techniques for nucleic acid and protein detection with single-molecule sensitivity
Experimental and Molecular Medicine
title Analytical techniques for nucleic acid and protein detection with single-molecule sensitivity
title_full Analytical techniques for nucleic acid and protein detection with single-molecule sensitivity
title_fullStr Analytical techniques for nucleic acid and protein detection with single-molecule sensitivity
title_full_unstemmed Analytical techniques for nucleic acid and protein detection with single-molecule sensitivity
title_short Analytical techniques for nucleic acid and protein detection with single-molecule sensitivity
title_sort analytical techniques for nucleic acid and protein detection with single molecule sensitivity
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s12276-025-01453-w
work_keys_str_mv AT soochulshin analyticaltechniquesfornucleicacidandproteindetectionwithsinglemoleculesensitivity
AT juyoungkim analyticaltechniquesfornucleicacidandproteindetectionwithsinglemoleculesensitivity
AT eunhosong analyticaltechniquesfornucleicacidandproteindetectionwithsinglemoleculesensitivity
AT sunhan analyticaltechniquesfornucleicacidandproteindetectionwithsinglemoleculesensitivity
AT sungchulhohng analyticaltechniquesfornucleicacidandproteindetectionwithsinglemoleculesensitivity