As a direct and effective method for non-destructive detection of fungal toxins in grains, near-infrared spectroscopy has great significance in ensuring grain safety by improving its reliability. This study innovatively proposes a "physical optimization" approach by designing a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microfluidic sorting chip based on solubility differences, which serves as a pre-processing unit for near-infrared spectroscopy. By efficiently enriching target analytes, the chip directly purifies the spectral signal at the source. Compared to "soft processing" optimization methods represented by mathematically-based feature selection models, this method demonstrates significant improvements in detection stability, accuracy, universality (with R-Square values of the prediction sets for four fungal toxins all exceeding 0.90), and interpretability. Additionally, the cost per chip does not exceed US$1.25. Therefore, the proposed method holds significant potential as a standardized pretreatment protocol for non-destructive grain analysis, while also laying the groundwork for developing real-time, online monitoring biosensors for grain mycotoxins.
{"title":"Enhanced performance in near infrared spectroscopy detection of wheat mycotoxins via microfluidic sorting based on solubility differences","authors":"Jingwen Zhu, Enze Tian, Qiaoying Zhou, Mingji Wei, Wenhao Hui, Dongyang Li, Hui Jiang","doi":"10.1016/j.snb.2026.139582","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2026.139582","url":null,"abstract":"As a direct and effective method for non-destructive detection of fungal toxins in grains, near-infrared spectroscopy has great significance in ensuring grain safety by improving its reliability. This study innovatively proposes a \"physical optimization\" approach by designing a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microfluidic sorting chip based on solubility differences, which serves as a pre-processing unit for near-infrared spectroscopy. By efficiently enriching target analytes, the chip directly purifies the spectral signal at the source. Compared to \"soft processing\" optimization methods represented by mathematically-based feature selection models, this method demonstrates significant improvements in detection stability, accuracy, universality (with R-Square values of the prediction sets for four fungal toxins all exceeding 0.90), and interpretability. Additionally, the cost per chip does not exceed US$1.25. Therefore, the proposed method holds significant potential as a standardized pretreatment protocol for non-destructive grain analysis, while also laying the groundwork for developing real-time, online monitoring biosensors for grain mycotoxins.","PeriodicalId":425,"journal":{"name":"Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical","volume":"76 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146129434","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-02DOI: 10.1016/j.snb.2026.139597
Fuping Zeng, Xianzong Chao, Ruotong Xiong, Langlang Lv, Wei Liu
In this paper, a mode-mismatched photothermal lens liquid sensing system using a distributed feedback quantum cascade laser (DFB-QCL) as the excitation source for the detection of furfural in insulating oil. The mid-infrared absorption spectrum of furfural in an insulating oil matrix was characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, identifying the optimal absorption peak at 1703 cm⁻¹ . Temperature and current tuning of the DFB-QCL were performed on pure oil and a 500 mg/L furfural/insulating oil sample to determine the optimal temperature and current values, ensuring maximum sensitivity during light excitation of the oil samples. Frequency-domain investigation of the PTL signal response revealed an exponential decrease in signal amplitude with increasing modulation frequency. The PTL signal amplitude exhibited a linear correlation with furfural concentration in the insulating oil. The sensing system has a low limit of detection (LOD) for furfural in insulating oil down to 5.9 mg/L, with a linear concentration range extending up to 500 mg/L. This method does not require pretreatment of the oil sample and can be used for real-time in-situ monitoring.
{"title":"Mode-mismatched photothermal lens-based trace furfural detection using a quantum cascade laser as excitation source","authors":"Fuping Zeng, Xianzong Chao, Ruotong Xiong, Langlang Lv, Wei Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.snb.2026.139597","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2026.139597","url":null,"abstract":"In this paper, a mode-mismatched photothermal lens liquid sensing system using a distributed feedback quantum cascade laser (DFB-QCL) as the excitation source for the detection of furfural in insulating oil. The mid-infrared absorption spectrum of furfural in an insulating oil matrix was characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, identifying the optimal absorption peak at 1703 cm⁻¹ . Temperature and current tuning of the DFB-QCL were performed on pure oil and a 500 mg/L furfural/insulating oil sample to determine the optimal temperature and current values, ensuring maximum sensitivity during light excitation of the oil samples. Frequency-domain investigation of the PTL signal response revealed an exponential decrease in signal amplitude with increasing modulation frequency. The PTL signal amplitude exhibited a linear correlation with furfural concentration in the insulating oil. The sensing system has a low limit of detection (LOD) for furfural in insulating oil down to 5.9 mg/L, with a linear concentration range extending up to 500 mg/L. This method does not require pretreatment of the oil sample and can be used for real-time in-situ monitoring.","PeriodicalId":425,"journal":{"name":"Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical","volume":"294 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146111016","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-02DOI: 10.1016/j.snb.2026.139594
Xiaoran Huang, Bochao Sun, Wenchao Gan, Xinyu Zhang, Peter Feng, Xiaoyan Peng, Jin Chu
{"title":"Drift compensation for gas detection in open environments using electronic nose via deep unsupervised adversarial domain adaptation","authors":"Xiaoran Huang, Bochao Sun, Wenchao Gan, Xinyu Zhang, Peter Feng, Xiaoyan Peng, Jin Chu","doi":"10.1016/j.snb.2026.139594","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2026.139594","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":425,"journal":{"name":"Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical","volume":"8 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146110998","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-02DOI: 10.1016/j.snb.2026.139595
Shahrooz Motahari, Alireza Zabihihesari, Vincent Sieben
Autonomous, high-resolution, and long-term monitoring in dynamic marine environments is advantageous to characterize the ocean carbon cycle. Here, we report an autonomous droplet Lab-on-Chip (LoC) sensor enabling high-resolution total alkalinity (TA) measurements with reduced reagent requirements validated in the laboratory. The droplet LoC sensor integrates on-chip droplet absorbance detection to perform multi-point spectrophotometric titrations, where each droplet in a set is an individual titration point. To facilitate droplet stability under varying pH titration conditions, a three-step silica nanoparticle coating method was adapted to render the PMMA channels superhydrophobic while maintaining compatibility with the titration chemistry. The droplet-based approach enables significant reductions in sample and reagent consumption, attaining 15 µL per titration point, which represents a ~67-fold improvement compared to previous designs. Further measurement time was also decreased, with a complete TA measurement taking 190 seconds that is ~6-fold faster than earlier stop-flow analyzers. Multiple certified reference material (CRM) measurements demonstrated a precision of 9.08 µmol kg⁻¹, which is comparable to previous stop-flow microfluidic systems. Once calibrated against CRMs, the device showed a strong correlation between sensor measured TA values and prepared standards across a range of alkalinities from to 1500 to 2500 µmol kg⁻¹, and an accuracy of –3.3 ± 22.9 µmol kg⁻¹. The droplet approach to TA measurements on chip demonstrate the potential of droplet microfluidics for long-term, and high spatiotemporal resolution TA measurements in marine environments.
{"title":"Investigating a Droplet Microfluidic System for Measuring Total Alkalinity","authors":"Shahrooz Motahari, Alireza Zabihihesari, Vincent Sieben","doi":"10.1016/j.snb.2026.139595","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2026.139595","url":null,"abstract":"Autonomous, high-resolution, and long-term monitoring in dynamic marine environments is advantageous to characterize the ocean carbon cycle. Here, we report an autonomous droplet Lab-on-Chip (LoC) sensor enabling high-resolution total alkalinity (TA) measurements with reduced reagent requirements validated in the laboratory. The droplet LoC sensor integrates on-chip droplet absorbance detection to perform multi-point spectrophotometric titrations, where each droplet in a set is an individual titration point. To facilitate droplet stability under varying pH titration conditions, a three-step silica nanoparticle coating method was adapted to render the PMMA channels superhydrophobic while maintaining compatibility with the titration chemistry. The droplet-based approach enables significant reductions in sample and reagent consumption, attaining 15<!-- --> <!-- -->µL per titration point, which represents a ~67-fold improvement compared to previous designs. Further measurement time was also decreased, with a complete TA measurement taking 190<!-- --> <!-- -->seconds that is ~6-fold faster than earlier stop-flow analyzers. Multiple certified reference material (CRM) measurements demonstrated a precision of 9.08 µmol kg⁻¹, which is comparable to previous stop-flow microfluidic systems. Once calibrated against CRMs, the device showed a strong correlation between sensor measured TA values and prepared standards across a range of alkalinities from to 1500 to 2500 µmol kg⁻¹, and an accuracy of –3.3 ± 22.9 µmol kg⁻¹. The droplet approach to TA measurements on chip demonstrate the potential of droplet microfluidics for long-term, and high spatiotemporal resolution TA measurements in marine environments.","PeriodicalId":425,"journal":{"name":"Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical","volume":"17 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146098193","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-01DOI: 10.1016/j.snb.2026.139590
Jiwoo Choi, Sungmin Kim, Qute Choi, Hyun Jin Kim, Hyun Kyu Yoon, In Hyuk Chung, Junho Maeng
SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic has highlighted the need for rapid and accurate molecular point-of-care testing (mPOCT). Here, we describe the development of GenHome®, a fully integrated, single-use cartridge platform that performs sample loading, direct nucleic-acid preparation, loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), and lateral-flow readout within a closed-system workflow, minimizing user intervention and providing results within 30 min. As the first cartridge of its type, we validated the GenHome® SARS-CoV-2 cartridge targeting the ORF1ab gene from SARS-CoV-2. Under optimized conditions (65 °C, 20 min), GenHome® achieved a limit of detection (LoD) of 194 copies/µL by probit analysis. Furthermore, analytical specificity testing revealed no cross-reactivity against a respiratory panel consisting of 33 viruses. Lastly, clinical evaluation of 466 nasopharyngeal specimens pre-verified by RT-PCR revealed a positive percentage agreement (PPA) of 94.7%, negative percentage agreement (NPA) of 92.6%, and overall agreement of 92.8%. Moreover, Ct-stratified analysis demonstrated PPA of 100% for Ct < 30, 88.9% for 30 ≤ Ct ≤ 35, and 30% for Ct > 35. These findings highlight the potential of GenHome® to deliver high clinical concordance with RT-PCR while retaining the ease-of-use and rapid turnaround critical for mPOCT. With its cartridge-integrated design and room-temperature-stable workflow, GenHome® is well-suited for widespread applications across diverse infectious-disease diagnostic applications.
{"title":"GenHome®: Development of a Next-Generation All-in-One Molecular Point-of-Care Testing Platform with High Sensitivity and Accessibility","authors":"Jiwoo Choi, Sungmin Kim, Qute Choi, Hyun Jin Kim, Hyun Kyu Yoon, In Hyuk Chung, Junho Maeng","doi":"10.1016/j.snb.2026.139590","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2026.139590","url":null,"abstract":"SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic has highlighted the need for rapid and accurate molecular point-of-care testing (mPOCT). Here, we describe the development of GenHome®, a fully integrated, single-use cartridge platform that performs sample loading, direct nucleic-acid preparation, loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), and lateral-flow readout within a closed-system workflow, minimizing user intervention and providing results within 30<!-- --> <!-- -->min. As the first cartridge of its type, we validated the GenHome® SARS-CoV-2 cartridge targeting the ORF1ab gene from SARS-CoV-2. Under optimized conditions (65 °C, 20<!-- --> <!-- -->min), GenHome® achieved a limit of detection (LoD) of 194 copies/µL by probit analysis. Furthermore, analytical specificity testing revealed no cross-reactivity against a respiratory panel consisting of 33 viruses. Lastly, clinical evaluation of 466 nasopharyngeal specimens pre-verified by RT-PCR revealed a positive percentage agreement (PPA) of 94.7%, negative percentage agreement (NPA) of 92.6%, and overall agreement of 92.8%. Moreover, Ct-stratified analysis demonstrated PPA of 100% for Ct < 30, 88.9% for 30 ≤ Ct ≤ 35, and 30% for Ct > 35. These findings highlight the potential of GenHome® to deliver high clinical concordance with RT-PCR while retaining the ease-of-use and rapid turnaround critical for mPOCT. With its cartridge-integrated design and room-temperature-stable workflow, GenHome® is well-suited for widespread applications across diverse infectious-disease diagnostic applications.","PeriodicalId":425,"journal":{"name":"Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical","volume":"92 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146095664","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The detection of Raman-inactive molecules remains a significant challenge due to the limitations of existing methods, such as low efficiency, stringent conditions, and high cost. Here, we report a novel surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) platform fabricated through the calcination of a tailored zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF) to form an Al/N-doped ZnS substrate (Al/N-ZnS), followed by the anchoring of dendritic Ag. The engineered N-ZnS teams up with multiple Ag-N/S electron transport channels to collectively lower the energy barrier, enabling highly efficient photo-induced charge separation and transfer. The promoted charge dynamics efficiently generates ·OH and ·O2- radicals on the Al/N-ZnS/Ag substrate under optimal irradiation, which in turn induce an oxidation-mediated structural rearrangement to rapidly convert target molecules from Raman-inactive to Raman-active states, enabling highly sensitive SERS detection. The substrate demonstrates exceptional sensitivity for detecting leuco-crystal violet (LCV)-a persistent and potentially hazardous derivative of crystal violet. It achieves a detection limit as low as 3.23 × 10-11 mol·L-1 and an enhancement factor of 1.28 × 106, coupled with high selectivity and strong anti-interference capability. Furthermore, by integrating machine learning with statistical analysis, the platform successfully discriminates the structurally similar derivatives at ultra-low concentrations (1 × 10-8 mol⋅L-1) in mixed samples. This novel photo-induced SERS strategy significantly improves detection efficiency and reduces costs, highlighting its great promise for applications in food and environmental analysis.
{"title":"Intelligent identification of Raman-inactive molecules on a plasmonic ZIF-derived SERS platform","authors":"Handong Zhao, Mengqi Li, Taiyang Zhang, Shi-Zhao Kang, Lixia Qin, Xiangqing Li","doi":"10.1016/j.snb.2026.139591","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2026.139591","url":null,"abstract":"The detection of Raman-inactive molecules remains a significant challenge due to the limitations of existing methods, such as low efficiency, stringent conditions, and high cost. Here, we report a novel surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) platform fabricated through the calcination of a tailored zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF) to form an Al/N-doped ZnS substrate (Al/N-ZnS), followed by the anchoring of dendritic Ag. The engineered N-ZnS teams up with multiple Ag-N/S electron transport channels to collectively lower the energy barrier, enabling highly efficient photo-induced charge separation and transfer. The promoted charge dynamics efficiently generates ·OH and ·O<sub>2</sub><sup>-</sup> radicals on the Al/N-ZnS/Ag substrate under optimal irradiation, which in turn induce an oxidation-mediated structural rearrangement to rapidly convert target molecules from Raman-inactive to Raman-active states, enabling highly sensitive SERS detection. The substrate demonstrates exceptional sensitivity for detecting leuco-crystal violet (LCV)-a persistent and potentially hazardous derivative of crystal violet. It achieves a detection limit as low as 3.23 × 10<sup>-11<!-- --> </sup>mol·L<sup>-1</sup> and an enhancement factor of 1.28 × 10<sup>6</sup>, coupled with high selectivity and strong anti-interference capability. Furthermore, by integrating machine learning with statistical analysis, the platform successfully discriminates the structurally similar derivatives at ultra-low concentrations (1 × 10<sup>-8<!-- --> </sup>mol⋅L<sup>-1</sup>) in mixed samples. This novel photo-induced SERS strategy significantly improves detection efficiency and reduces costs, highlighting its great promise for applications in food and environmental analysis.","PeriodicalId":425,"journal":{"name":"Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical","volume":"90 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146110997","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The precise and sensitive detection of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), a promising noninvasive biomarker, is crucial for cancer diagnosis and monitoring. However, identifying ctDNAs in human body fluids is often challenging due to their low expression levels and interference from frequently mutated counterparts. In this study, a real-time polymerase chain reaction combined with toehold-initiated ligation (TIL-PCR) was developed for detecting one of the most common oncogenic KRAS mutations (KRAS G12D). The TIL-PCR system relies on the catalytic joining of two distinct DNA probes (probes 1 and 2) using the target DNA as a template in the presence of a DNA ligase, which acts as the substrate for PCR. One probe was a phosphorylated single-stranded DNA, while the other was a hairpin-shaped DNA designed with a toehold domain at its 3-end recognition region. By incorporating a hairpin-shaped DNA probe with a toehold domain, a toehold-initiated ligation reaction was initiated, leading to a significant reduction in nonspecific ligation by approximately 50%. Importantly, the target KRAS G12D could be distinguished from its frequently mutated counterparts in a blind test. Furthermore, the TIL-PCR system demonstrated high sensitivity for detecting KRAS G12D when combined with PCR, achieving a limit of detection of 160 fM. The successful application of the TIL-PCR system for KRAS G12D detection in clinical samples underscores its substantial potential for clinical diagnosis.
{"title":"Ultrasensitive Detection of KRAS Mutations with Improved Specificity by Coupling Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction with Toehold-Initiated Ligation","authors":"Zhifa Shen, Huaiwen Zeng, Linglin Chen, Siqiang Chen, Yu Jiang, Qi Pang, Shaoqi Lin, Chenling Pan","doi":"10.1016/j.snb.2026.139589","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2026.139589","url":null,"abstract":"The precise and sensitive detection of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), a promising noninvasive biomarker, is crucial for cancer diagnosis and monitoring. However, identifying ctDNAs in human body fluids is often challenging due to their low expression levels and interference from frequently mutated counterparts. In this study, a real-time polymerase chain reaction combined with toehold-initiated ligation (TIL-PCR) was developed for detecting one of the most common oncogenic KRAS mutations (KRAS G12D). The TIL-PCR system relies on the catalytic joining of two distinct DNA probes (probes 1 and 2) using the target DNA as a template in the presence of a DNA ligase, which acts as the substrate for PCR. One probe was a phosphorylated single-stranded DNA, while the other was a hairpin-shaped DNA designed with a toehold domain at its 3-end recognition region. By incorporating a hairpin-shaped DNA probe with a toehold domain, a toehold-initiated ligation reaction was initiated, leading to a significant reduction in nonspecific ligation by approximately 50%. Importantly, the target KRAS G12D could be distinguished from its frequently mutated counterparts in a blind test. Furthermore, the TIL-PCR system demonstrated high sensitivity for detecting KRAS G12D when combined with PCR, achieving a limit of detection of 160 fM. The successful application of the TIL-PCR system for KRAS G12D detection in clinical samples underscores its substantial potential for clinical diagnosis.","PeriodicalId":425,"journal":{"name":"Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical","volume":"34 1","pages":"139589"},"PeriodicalIF":8.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146122534","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-31DOI: 10.1016/j.snb.2026.139545
Jie Luo, Ganjun Cen, Huiling Zhou, Chuyan Zhang, Linyao Wang, Liqian Su, Wanjiang Gu, Hongzhi Pan, Yongxin Li
The construction of a simple, sensitive and automated platform for multiplex analysis of microRNAs (miRNAs) is of vital importance for the early diagnostics of cancer. Herein, we report a robust biosensing strategy by integrating parallel locked nucleic acid-modified entropy-driven circuits (LNA-EDCs) with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for ultra-sensitive and highly specific detection of four breast cancer-related miRNAs (miR-21, miR-155, miR-10b and let-7a). In this design, each LNA-EDC module specifically responds to its target via toehold-mediated strand displacement reaction and releases a distinct FAM-labeled DNA probe (R strand). The modification of LNA at the termini of protecting strands (P strand) effectively suppresses background leakage and markedly enhances signal-to-noise ratio. Meanwhile, the released R strands exhibit unique retention behavior on HPLC, enabling simultaneous and precise signal readout of multiple targets. Under the optimized conditions, the platform achieves excellent linearity (R² > 0.99) and the ultra-low detection limits of 365-500 fM. This work integrates the advantages of enzyme-free isothermal amplification, one-pot analysis, high-efficiency separation, automation, and multiplex detection, offering a new strategy for the efficient analysis of multiple miRNAs.
{"title":"Locked Nucleic Acid-Modified Parallel Entropy-Driven Circuit Integrated with High-Performance Liquid Chromatography for Sensitive, Automated, and Multiplexed Detection of Breast Cancer-Related MicroRNAs","authors":"Jie Luo, Ganjun Cen, Huiling Zhou, Chuyan Zhang, Linyao Wang, Liqian Su, Wanjiang Gu, Hongzhi Pan, Yongxin Li","doi":"10.1016/j.snb.2026.139545","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2026.139545","url":null,"abstract":"The construction of a simple, sensitive and automated platform for multiplex analysis of microRNAs (miRNAs) is of vital importance for the early diagnostics of cancer. Herein, we report a robust biosensing strategy by integrating parallel locked nucleic acid-modified entropy-driven circuits (LNA-EDCs) with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for ultra-sensitive and highly specific detection of four breast cancer-related miRNAs (miR-21, miR-155, miR-10b and let-7a). In this design, each LNA-EDC module specifically responds to its target via toehold-mediated strand displacement reaction and releases a distinct FAM-labeled DNA probe (R strand). The modification of LNA at the termini of protecting strands (P strand) effectively suppresses background leakage and markedly enhances signal-to-noise ratio. Meanwhile, the released R strands exhibit unique retention behavior on HPLC, enabling simultaneous and precise signal readout of multiple targets. Under the optimized conditions, the platform achieves excellent linearity (R² > 0.99) and the ultra-low detection limits of 365-500 fM. This work integrates the advantages of enzyme-free isothermal amplification, one-pot analysis, high-efficiency separation, automation, and multiplex detection, offering a new strategy for the efficient analysis of multiple miRNAs.","PeriodicalId":425,"journal":{"name":"Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical","volume":"67 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146090122","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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