The detection of
nucleic acids usually suffers from a lengthy amplification
process. To obtain an enhanced signal within several seconds, a magnetic
three-phase single-drop microextraction (MTP-SDME) approach was developed
for the quantification of nucleic acids. First, a target-triggered
recycling amplification strategy was used to constitute magnetic branched
DNA/Fe3O4 networks, which displayed peroxidase-like
catalytic activity toward the 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine
colorimetric reaction. The networks were separated and enriched by
rapid (6 s) MTP-SDME (with only 6 μL of solvent required), thereby
producing highly sensitive signals for the quantification of nucleic
acids. The signals were significantly amplified by the triple strategy
(network formation, MTP-SDME, and catalytic reaction). The application
of magnetic extraction minimized the background signal, avoided sample
matrix effects, and enhanced the analyte signals. This assay achieved
linear calibration curves of between 0.5 aM and 1 pM for microRNA-122
(miRNA-122) and between 1 aM and 1 pM for HBV-T (a DNA fragment from
hepatitis B virus). Limits of detection of 0.15 aM for miRNA-122 and
0.34 aM for HBV-T were attained, with relative standard deviations
of <5.0% (n = 3). Furthermore, the procedure was
applied to determine miRNA-122 and HBV-T in genuine serum samples
from hepatocellular carcinoma patients.