ILluminate-miRNA: Paradigm for high-throughput, low-cost, and sensitive miRNA detection in serum samples at point-of-care

Abstract

This study reports a sensitive, low-cost and speedy circulating microRNA (miRNA) detection method called iLluminate-miRNA, for potential clinical applications at point-of-care. The central component of the iLluminate-miRNA is the low-cost disposable device that has a combination of microscale and nanoscale metallic structures. These structures are powered with low energy (<microwatts) to selectively concentrate the fluorophore-labelled target miRNA-DNA duplexes in nanoscale metallic structures called hotspots. Then, the fluorescence intensity is enhanced using metal-fluorophore interaction for sensitive, low-cost and speedy detection. Compared to the current gold standard, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, our iLluminate-miRNA method successfully improved assay time (from 7 to 1 h), cost (from $2000 to $60) and sensitivity of miRNA detection (from micro molar to femto molar). For these reasons, the iLluminate-miRNA platform has great potential to be used for diagnostic purposes at point-of-care settings.