micro-RNA 21 detection with a limit of 2 pM in 1 min using a size-accordable concentration module operated by electrohydrodynamic actuation

Inga Tijunelyte (1) , Rémi Malbec (1) , Bayan Chami (1) , Jean Cacheux (2) , Christophe Dez (3, 4) , Thierry Leichlé (2) , Pierre Cordelier (5) , Aurélien Bancaud (1)

1 LAAS-MILE - Équipe Micro-Nanofluidique pour les sciences de la vie et de l’environnement
2 LAAS-MEMS - Équipe Microsystèmes électromécaniques
3 LBMCE - Laboratoire de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire des Eucaryotes
4 CBI - Centre de Biologie Intégrative
5 CRCT - Centre de Recherches en Cancérologie de Toulouse

We present a fluorimetry-based technology for micro-RNA-21 (miR-21) sensing based on the concentration of miR-molecular beacon (MB) complexes and flushing of unbound MB. This concentration module consists of a microfluidic channel with the shape of a funnel operated with electrohydrodynamic actuation. We report a limit of detection of 2 pM in less than one minute for miR-21 alone, and then demonstrate that miR-21 levels measured in fine needle biopsy samples from patients with pancreatic cancer correlate with the reference technique of reverse- transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Altogether, this technology has promising clinical performances for the follow-up of patients with cancer.

Keywords: Electrohydrodynamic migration; RNA/DNA concentration; miR-21; fine needle biopsy

Domains: Physics [physics]; Physics [physics]; Biological Physics [physics.bio-ph]

Inga Tijunelyte, Rémi Malbec, Bayan Chami, Jean Cacheux, Christophe Dez, et al.. micro-RNA 21 detection with a limit of 2 pM in 1 min using a size-accordable concentration module operated by electrohydrodynamic actuation. Biosensors and Bioelectronics, 2021, 178, pp.112992. ⟨10.1016/j.bios.2021.112992⟩. ⟨hal-03449104⟩