Colorimetric Detection of microRNA-378 Based on Y-Shaped Structure Formed by Gold Nanoparticles and Catalytic Hairpin Self-Assembly

The timely and accurate detection of cancer is crucial for preventing disease progression and for the early treatment of confirmed cases. MiRNAs are cancer markers. In this study, a simple miRNA detection method is proposed. Three hairpins were designed based on gold nanoparticles combined with cata...

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Main Authors: Yahui Gao, Jinru Pan, Bingyuan Fan, Shan Wang, Qian Wang, Wanru Liu, Fang Hu, Wei Meng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Biosensors
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6374/15/5/319
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author Yahui Gao
Jinru Pan
Bingyuan Fan
Shan Wang
Qian Wang
Wanru Liu
Fang Hu
Wei Meng
author_facet Yahui Gao
Jinru Pan
Bingyuan Fan
Shan Wang
Qian Wang
Wanru Liu
Fang Hu
Wei Meng
author_sort Yahui Gao
collection DOAJ
description The timely and accurate detection of cancer is crucial for preventing disease progression and for the early treatment of confirmed cases. MiRNAs are cancer markers. In this study, a simple miRNA detection method is proposed. Three hairpins were designed based on gold nanoparticles combined with catalytic hairpin assembly nucleic acid amplification technology. The low-pH method was used for rapid coupling, and hairpin H1 was opened by miR-378, triggering the cycle reaction and signal amplification and finally forming a Y-shaped structure, thereby narrowing the distance between gold nanoparticles and achieving colorimetric detection. The absorbance change (A<sub>620</sub>/A<sub>520</sub>) was proportional to the concentration of miR-378 (0.05–5 nM), with a detection limit of 0.05 nM. This method also has an evident detection effect on real samples. HeLa and L-02 cell extracts were analyzed using this method. The former showed no obvious color change, whereas the maximum absorption peak of the latter showed a red shift, and the color changed from red to purple. The minimum number of cells that could be detected using HeLa cells was 500 cells/mL.
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issn 2079-6374
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publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher MDPI AG
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series Biosensors
spelling doaj-art-15abd04d9bce4e79b66e0e59e1c1e4302025-08-20T01:56:17ZengMDPI AGBiosensors2079-63742025-05-0115531910.3390/bios15050319Colorimetric Detection of microRNA-378 Based on Y-Shaped Structure Formed by Gold Nanoparticles and Catalytic Hairpin Self-AssemblyYahui Gao0Jinru Pan1Bingyuan Fan2Shan Wang3Qian Wang4Wanru Liu5Fang Hu6Wei Meng7Key Laboratory of Biomedical Functional Materials, School of Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, ChinaKey Laboratory of Biomedical Functional Materials, School of Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, ChinaKey Laboratory of Biomedical Functional Materials, School of Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, ChinaKey Laboratory of Biomedical Functional Materials, School of Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, ChinaKey Laboratory of Biomedical Functional Materials, School of Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, ChinaKey Laboratory of Biomedical Functional Materials, School of Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, ChinaKey Laboratory of Biomedical Functional Materials, School of Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, ChinaKey Laboratory of Biomedical Functional Materials, School of Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, ChinaThe timely and accurate detection of cancer is crucial for preventing disease progression and for the early treatment of confirmed cases. MiRNAs are cancer markers. In this study, a simple miRNA detection method is proposed. Three hairpins were designed based on gold nanoparticles combined with catalytic hairpin assembly nucleic acid amplification technology. The low-pH method was used for rapid coupling, and hairpin H1 was opened by miR-378, triggering the cycle reaction and signal amplification and finally forming a Y-shaped structure, thereby narrowing the distance between gold nanoparticles and achieving colorimetric detection. The absorbance change (A<sub>620</sub>/A<sub>520</sub>) was proportional to the concentration of miR-378 (0.05–5 nM), with a detection limit of 0.05 nM. This method also has an evident detection effect on real samples. HeLa and L-02 cell extracts were analyzed using this method. The former showed no obvious color change, whereas the maximum absorption peak of the latter showed a red shift, and the color changed from red to purple. The minimum number of cells that could be detected using HeLa cells was 500 cells/mL.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6374/15/5/319gold nanoparticlescatalytic hairpin assemblyMicroRNAcolorimetry
spellingShingle Yahui Gao
Jinru Pan
Bingyuan Fan
Shan Wang
Qian Wang
Wanru Liu
Fang Hu
Wei Meng
Colorimetric Detection of microRNA-378 Based on Y-Shaped Structure Formed by Gold Nanoparticles and Catalytic Hairpin Self-Assembly
Biosensors
gold nanoparticles
catalytic hairpin assembly
MicroRNA
colorimetry
title Colorimetric Detection of microRNA-378 Based on Y-Shaped Structure Formed by Gold Nanoparticles and Catalytic Hairpin Self-Assembly
title_full Colorimetric Detection of microRNA-378 Based on Y-Shaped Structure Formed by Gold Nanoparticles and Catalytic Hairpin Self-Assembly
title_fullStr Colorimetric Detection of microRNA-378 Based on Y-Shaped Structure Formed by Gold Nanoparticles and Catalytic Hairpin Self-Assembly
title_full_unstemmed Colorimetric Detection of microRNA-378 Based on Y-Shaped Structure Formed by Gold Nanoparticles and Catalytic Hairpin Self-Assembly
title_short Colorimetric Detection of microRNA-378 Based on Y-Shaped Structure Formed by Gold Nanoparticles and Catalytic Hairpin Self-Assembly
title_sort colorimetric detection of microrna 378 based on y shaped structure formed by gold nanoparticles and catalytic hairpin self assembly
topic gold nanoparticles
catalytic hairpin assembly
MicroRNA
colorimetry
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6374/15/5/319
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AT bingyuanfan colorimetricdetectionofmicrorna378basedonyshapedstructureformedbygoldnanoparticlesandcatalytichairpinselfassembly
AT shanwang colorimetricdetectionofmicrorna378basedonyshapedstructureformedbygoldnanoparticlesandcatalytichairpinselfassembly
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AT weimeng colorimetricdetectionofmicrorna378basedonyshapedstructureformedbygoldnanoparticlesandcatalytichairpinselfassembly