miR-122 direct detection in human serum by time-gated fluorescence imaging

Citation: Chem. Commun., 2019, 55, 14958-14961 Abstract A simple method for direct detection of microRNAs (miRs) in human serum without the use of polymerase amplification is presented, achieving low miR-122 concentrations and importantly, discerning effectively single-base sequence mutations. The method is based on the capture of target miRs with synthetic peptide nucleic acid oligomers, dynamic chemical labelling,…

PCR-free and chemistry-based technology for miR-21 rapid detection directly from tumour cells

Citation: Talanta, 2019, 51-56 Abstract miRNAs are well known for being implicated in a myriad of biological situations, including those related to serious diseases. Amongst miRNAs, miRNA-21 has the spotlight as it is reported to be up-regulated in multiple severe pathological conditions, being its quantification a key point in medicine. To date, most of the techniques for miRNA quantification…

New Platform for the Direct Profiling of microRNAs in Biofluids

Citation: Anal. Chem., 2019, 91 (9), 5874–5880 Abstract Circulating microRNAs have been identified as potential biomarkers for early detection, prognosis, and prediction of several diseases. Their use in clinical diagnostics has been limited by the lack of suitable detection techniques. Most of the current technologies suffer from requiring complex protocols, not yet able to deliver robust and cost-effective…

Time-Gated Luminescence Acquisition for Biochemical Sensing: miRNA Detection

Citation: In: Pedras B. (eds) Fluorescence in Industry. Springer Series on Fluorescence (Methods and Applications), vol 18. Springer, Chamger Ser Fluoresc, DOI 10.1007/4243_2018_4 Abstracts Luminescence emission is a multidimensional phenomenon comprising a time-domain layer defined by its excited-state kinetics and corresponding lifetime, which is specific to each luminophore and depends on environmental conditions. This feature…

A colorimetric strategy based on dynamic chemistry for direct detection of Trypanosomatid species

Citation: Scientific Reports, 2019, 9, Article number: 3696 Abstract Leishmaniasis and Chagas disease are endemic in many countries, and re-emerging in the developed countries. A rapid and accurate diagnosis is important for early treatment for reducing the duration of infection as well as for preventing further potential health complications. In this work, we have developed a novel colorimetric molecular assay…

A PCR-free technology to detect and quantify microRNAs directly from human plasma

Citation: Analyst, 2018, 143, 5676-5682 Abstract A novel sensitive, specific and rapid method for the detection and quantification of microRNAs without requiring extraction from their biological sources is now available using a novel chemical based, PCR-free technology for nucleic acid testing. In this study, we both demonstrate how this method can be used to profile miR-451a,…

Identification of Trypanosomatids by detecting Single Nucleotide Fingerprints using DNA analysis by dynamic chemistry with MALDI-ToF

Citation: Talanta, 2018, 299-307 Protozoan parasites of the Trypanosomatidae family can cause devastating diseases in humans and animals, such as Human African Trypanosomiasis or Sleeping Sickness, Chagas disease and Leishmaniasis. Currently, there are molecular assays for detecting parasitic infections and their post-treatment monitoring based on nucleic acid amplification, but there are still certain limitations which limit the…

Polymerase-free measurement of microRNA-122 with single base specificity using single molecule arrays: Detection of drug-induced liver injury

Citation: PLOS One, 2017, doi: journal.pone.0179669 Abstract We have developed a single probe method for detecting microRNA from human serum using single molecule arrays, with sequence specificity down to a single base, and without the use of amplification by polymerases. An abasic peptide nucleic acid (PNA) probe—containing a reactive amine instead of a nucleotide at a specific position…

Novel bead-based platform for direct detection of unlabelled nucleic acids through Single Nucleobase Labelling

Citation:  Talanta, 2016, 161, 489-496 Abstract Over the last decade, circulating microRNAs have received attention as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. In particular, microRNA122 has been demonstrated to be an early and more sensitive indicator of drug-induced liver injury than the widely used biomarkers such as alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase. Recently, microRNA122 has been used in vitro to assess the cellular toxicity of…

Novel Biochip Platform for Nucleic Acid Analysis

Citation Sensors, 2012, 12, 8100-8111. Abstract This manuscript describes the use of a novel biochip platform for the rapid analysis/identification of nucleic acids, including DNA and microRNAs, with very high specificity. This approach combines a unique dynamic chemistry approach for nucleic acid testing and analysis developed by DestiNA Genomics with the STMicroelectronics In-Check platform, which comprises two microfluidic optimized…