Analytical Sciences


Abstract − Analytical Sciences, 33(2), 171 (2017).

Specificity of MicroRNA Detection on a Power-free Microfluidic Chip with Laminar Flow-assisted Dendritic Amplification
Kazuki HASEGAWA,*,** Rina NEGISHI,*,*** Mutsuyoshi MATSUMOTO,** Masafumi YOHDA,*** Kazuo HOSOKAWA,* and Mizuo MAEDA*
*Bioengineering Laboratory, RIKEN, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
**Department of Materials Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, 6-3-1 Niijuku, Katsushika, Tokyo 125-8585, Japan
***Department of Biotechnology and Life Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Naka-cho, Koganei, Tokyo 184-8588, Japan
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are attracting considerable attention as potential biomarkers for the early diagnosis of cancer. We have been developing a detection method for miRNAs on a microfluidic chip with external-power-free fluid pumping and enzyme-free amplification. The assay is completed within 20 min. Here, we describe the specificity of this miRNA detection method. First, the specificity against mismatched sequences was investigated. The nonspecific detection of a 2-nucleotide mismatched sequence was negligible, while that of a 1-nucleotide mismatched sequence was observed to a reasonable extent. Next, the disturbance in mature miRNA detection by existence of its precursor miRNA was evaluated. One precursor miRNA out of four tested showed significant nonspecific responses at 1 nM or higher concentrations. However, those responses were much lower than that of the target mature miRNA at 0.1 nM. Finally, we tried to detect three endogenous miRNAs, which are known to be potential cancer biomarkers, in human leucocyte total RNA. The measured concentraions of these miRNAs agreed well with those obtained by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. These results indicate that the on-chip miRNA detection method has good specificity, which is promising for applications to real biological samples.