Quantitative and multiplexed microRNA sensing in living cells based on peptide nucleic acid and nano graphene oxide (PANGO)

Soo Ryoon Ryoo, Jieon Lee, Jinah Yeo, Hee Kyung Na, Young Kwan Kim, Hongje Jang, Jung Hyun Lee, Sang Woo Han, Younghoon Lee, Vic Narry Kim, Dal Hee Min

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

271 Scopus citations

Abstract

MicroRNA (miRNA) is an important small RNA which regulates diverse gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. miRNAs are considered as important biomarkers since abnormal expression of specific miRNAs is associated with many diseases including cancer and diabetes. Therefore, it is important to develop biosensors to quantitatively detect miRNA expression levels. Here, we develop a nanosized graphene oxide (NGO) based miRNA sensor, which allows quantitative monitoring of target miRNA expression levels in living cells. The strategy is based on tight binding of NGO with peptide nucleic acid (PNA) probes, resulting in fluorescence quenching of the dye that is conjugated to the PNA, and subsequent recovery of the fluorescence upon addition of target miRNA. PNA as a probe for miRNA sensing offers many advantages including high sequence specificity, high loading capacity on the NGO surface compared to DNA and resistance against nuclease-mediated degradation. The present miRNA sensor allowed the detection of specific target miRNAs with the detection limit as low as ∼1 pM and the simultaneous monitoring of three different miRNAs in a living cell.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)5882-5891
Number of pages10
JournalACS Nano
Volume7
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - 23 Jul 2013

Keywords

  • RNA recognition
  • biosensor
  • graphene oxide
  • nanotechnology
  • peptide nucleic acid

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