Ultrasensitive detection of microRNA-21 by using specific interaction of antimonene with RNA as electrochemical biosensor

Ya Zhang; Ning Li; Wenhao Ma; Mei Yang; Changjun Hou; Xiaogang Luo; Danqun Huo

doi:10.1016/j.bioelechem.2021.107890

Ultrasensitive detection of microRNA-21 by using specific interaction of antimonene with RNA as electrochemical biosensor

Bioelectrochemistry. 2021 Dec:142:107890. doi: 10.1016/j.bioelechem.2021.107890. Epub 2021 Jul 17.

Authors

Ya Zhang¹, Ning Li¹, Wenhao Ma¹, Mei Yang¹, Changjun Hou², Xiaogang Luo³, Danqun Huo⁴

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory for Biorheological Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Vascular Implants, Bioengineering College of Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, PR China.
² National Facility for Translational Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, PR, China. Electronic address: huodq@cqu.edu.cn.
³ Key Laboratory for Biorheological Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Vascular Implants, Bioengineering College of Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, PR China. Electronic address: luosteel@cqu.edu.cn.
⁴ Key Laboratory for Biorheological Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Vascular Implants, Bioengineering College of Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, PR China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Bio-perception & Intelligent Information Processing, School of Microelectronics and Communication Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, PR China. Electronic address: houcj@cqu.edu.cn.

PMID: 34399167
DOI: 10.1016/j.bioelechem.2021.107890

Abstract

MicroRNA exhibits different levels of expression in cancer and can affect the transformation, metastasis, and carcinogenesis of the cancer cell. Herein, we developed a novel kind of electrochemical microRNA biosensor based on two-dimensional nanomaterial of antimonene nano-flakes (AMNFs) and carbon quantum dots (CQDs) which were used as substrating to cadmium ion (Cd²⁺) for specific detection of breast cancer-relevant biomarker-microRNA-21. Compared to graphene, the first principle energetic calculation shows that the AMNFs have completely a stronger force interaction with single strand (ssRNA), due to the antimonene has a more delocalized 5 s/5p orbital. After the addition of complementary microRNA, due to the low adsorption affinity of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) to antimonene, the hybridized target is easy to desorb from the antimonene interface, and the oxidation peak of metal ions is significantly reduced. Results showed the microRNA-21 concentration can be detected from 100 aM to 1 nM, the limit of detection as low as 21 aM toward microRNA-21, which is 3 times lower than those of the established microRNA biosensors. The unique combination of not be attempted before existing sensing material which has special adsorption properties represents an approach to the detection of breast cancer. And it provides a promising method for early diagnosis, monitoring, and staging of breast cancer.

Keywords: AMNFs; Breast cancer; Cadmium ion; Carbon quantum dots; Electrochemical microRNA biosensor; MicroRNA-21.

MeSH terms

Biomarkers, Tumor / analysis*
Biosensing Techniques / methods*
Breast Neoplasms* / diagnosis
Breast Neoplasms* / metabolism
Electrochemical Techniques / methods*
Female
Humans
MicroRNAs / metabolism*

Substances

Biomarkers, Tumor
MicroRNAs