A near-infrared responsive photocaged amplified DNA nanodevice for precise and sensitive microRNA imaging.

ABSTRACT: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a critical role in early cancer detection, but traditional DNA probes are limited by the low abundance of miRNAs and their "always effective" property. Herein, we construct a photocaged amplified DNA nanodevice (PAD) by attaching DNA probes to upconversion nanoparticles (UCs). Upon remote near-infrared (NIR) light stimulation, the photocleavable DNA probes are activated by emitted UV light, and subsequently triggered by target miRNA. This process is further propelled by mRNA and DNA hairpin to achieve "one to many" signal amplification, enabling precise and sensitive spatiotemporal resolved imaging of miRNA. In vitro results demonstrate that the proposed dual-cycle amplification strategy effectively prevents undesired activation and minimizes non-specific sig

SUBMITTER: Zhong Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12396463 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature