Advances in Point-of-Care Testing of microRNAs Based on Portable Instruments and Visual Detection

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small noncoding RNAs that are approximately 22 nt in length and regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally. miRNAs play a vital role in both physiological and pathological processes and are regarded as promising biomarkers for cancer, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, and so on. Accurate detection of miRNA expression level in clinical samples is important for miRNA-guided diagnostics. However, the common miRNA detection approaches like RNA sequencing, qRT-PCR, and miRNA microarray are performed in a professional laboratory with complex intermediate steps and are time-consuming and costly, challenging the miRNA-guided diagnostics. Hence, sensitive, highly specific, rapid, and easy-to-use detection of miRNAs is crucial for clinical diagnosis based on miRNAs. With the advantages of being specific, sensitive, efficient, cost-saving, and easy to operate, point-of-care testing (POCT) has been widely used in the detection of miRNAs. For the first time, we mainly focus on summarizing the research progress in POCT of miRNAs based on portable instruments and visual readout methods. As widely available pocket-size portable instruments and visual detection play important roles in POCT, we provide an all-sided discussion of the principles of these methods and their main limitations and challenges, in order to provide a guide for the development of more accurate, specific, and sensitive POCT methods for miRNA detection.

Cancer Detection Using a New Hybrid Method Based on Pattern Recognition in MicroRNAs Combining Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithm and Artificial Neural Network

“…When it comes to DL, it is a field of Artificial Intelligence that is reliant on algorithms for data processing, thinking process modelling, or the development of abstractions [23][24][25]. Recent research by [26] emphasizes the critical role of microRNAs (miRNAs) as biomarkers for various diseases, including cancer. The study underscores the challenges in traditional miRNA detection methods, such as RNA sequencing and qRT-PCR, which are time-consuming and costly.…”

The Neuromuscular Disorder Mediated by Extracellular Vesicles in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

“…Currently, conventional detection methods, including quantitative RT-PCR, next-generation sequencing (NGS), DNA microarray-based analysis, and northern blot rely on time-consuming and costly procedures that require specialized laboratory equipment, limiting their application in routine clinical practice. These limitations have driven the development of reliable biosensing platforms, which provide high sensitivity and specificity for targets, with significant advantages in terms of cost-effectiveness and rapid response, making them suitable for high-throughput applications [ 114 ]. The identification of myogenic-related exosomal miRNAs through the integration of sensing technologies targeting exposed regions is attracting considerable attention, offering valuable insights into the molecular processes involved in muscle-related disorders, thereby facilitating the development of targeted interventions [ 115 ].…”

“…The recognition event produces a modification of a physical quantity that a transducer converts into an easily measurable signal (e.g., optical or electrochemical). The choice of probe sequences and labeling strategies can affect the sensitivity, selectivity, and stability of the biosensor; thus, these parameters need to be carefully optimized for each application [ 114 ]. In a recent study conducted by Kang et al, fluorescent-based molecular beacons (MBs) were developed for the detection of mir-26a and mir-206 during the myogenesis of C2C12 cells, both in vitro and in vivo [ 111 ].…”

A novel β-cyclodextrin-assisted enhancement strategy for portable and sensitive detection of miR-21 in human serum

“…13 Microarray analysis is a high-throughput method, which can evaluate the expression level of hundreds of miRNAs in an experiment, but it's also expensive and requires complex data analysis, and these approaches for miRNA detection are performed in a professional laboratory, which is challenging for the application of miRNA detection in clinical practice. 14…”