Transcending Diagnostic Bottlenecks: A Non-Invasive Urinary microRNA Detection Platform for Precision Bladder Cancer Management

Rapid, isothermal SPR assay using AuNPs and triplex DNA nanoswitches for ultra-sensitive, non-invasive detection of bladder cancer–associated miRNAs.

Schematic of pH-responsive triplex DNA nanoswitches regulating the release of AuNP-labeled reporter units for dual detection of bladder cancer-associated miRNAs on an SPR platform.

A recent study published in ACS Nano presented a novel biosensor for the isothermal, highly sensitive detection of bladder cancer biomarkers—miRNAs, short non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression—using programmable pH-responsive triplex DNA nanostructures. 

The platform employs triplex DNA nanoswitches (TDNs) designed to respond to specific pH conditions. Two TDNs were engineered to target miR-183 and miR-155, which are overexpressed in bladder cancer. These TDNs are integrated into a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor, enabling the sequential release of gold nanoparticle-labeled reporters at pH 5.0 and 8.3. The controlled release events generate distinct optical signals, allowing accurate target identification. 

This dual-detection system demonstrated detection limits of 0.57 pM and 0.83 pM for miR-183 and miR-155, respectively, and successfully distinguished urine samples from bladder cancer patients and healthy individuals. 

Unlike traditional qRT-PCR, this approach avoids complex amplification steps, operates under isothermal conditions, and reduces the assay time to less than one hour. 

This assay offers high sensitivity, specificity, and flexibility, making it a robust platform for multiplex biomarker detection. 

"Its straightforward design and non-invasive sampling approach make it highly promising for clinical applications—not only in bladder cancer but also in detecting other diseases linked to specific microRNA signatures," said Prof. Ja-an Annie Ho.

 

Prof. Ja-an Annie Ho’s email address: [email protected]

Published: 13 May 2025

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No.1, Section 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei.

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Funding information:

Ministry of Education of Taiwan (Higher Education Sprout Project) (113L895204); National Science and Technology Council of Taiwan (109-2113-M-002-007-MY3, 112−2113-M-002−026-MY3)