University of Tehran Researchers Develop Dual-Mode Colorimetric Nanobiosensor for Early Breast Cancer Detection
TEHRAN– Researchers at the University of Tehran have successfully engineered a novel dual-mode colorimetric nanobiosensor based on gold nanoparticles and DNAzyme technology. This enzyme-free, high-sensitivity device enables the simultaneous detection of two key breast cancer biomarkers in clinical samples, producing a colorimetric signal that facilitates rapid, cost-effective diagnosis.
According to the university's Public Relations Office, this research project was conducted by Dr. Maryam Keramati, a Ph.D. graduate in Nanobiotechnology from the Faculty of Interdisciplinary Science and Technology at the University of Tehran, under the supervision of Dr. Mahdi Rahaie Jahromi, a faculty member of the same faculty. The findings have been published in the prestigious international journal Analytica Chimica Acta under the title:"Design and fabrication of a dual-mode colorimetric nanobiosensor for detection of breast cancer-related microRNA biomarkers upon the simultaneous application of gold nanoparticles and DNAzyme".
Dr. Rahaie Jahromi, the principal investigator of the project, elaborated on the significance of the research: "Breast cancer, as one of the most prevalent malignancies worldwide, demands diagnostic methods that are rapid, sensitive, and affordable for early-stage screening. Conventional imaging techniques and biopsy procedures are time-consuming, costly, and present limitations for repeated screening or early detection."
He further noted: "In recent years, non-invasive biomarkers such as microRNAs have emerged as effective target molecules for early cancer diagnosis. However, common detection methods for these biomarkers, including qRT-PCR—despite their high sensitivity—face challenges for broad clinical application due to their complexity and dependence on sophisticated instrumentation."
Dr. Rahaie Jahromi explained: "In this project, we designed and fabricated a dual-mode, enzyme-free colorimetric nanobiosensor for the early detection of breast cancer. This nanobiosensor is capable of simultaneously identifying two breast cancer-associated miRNAs: miR-145 (downregulated) and miR-21 (upregulated)."
He highlighted the innovation of the sensor as the integration of two independent detection mechanisms within a single platform. "For miR-145 detection, we employed hybridization chain reaction (HCR) and the peroxidase-like activity of G-quadruplex DNAzymes, which oxidize the OPD substrate to generate a measurable colorimetric signal at 425 nm. For miR-21 detection, we utilized a gold nanoparticle (AuNP) aggregation-based colorimetric assay, which results in a decrease in absorbance at 535 nm upon target hybridization."
The faculty member at the School of Biological Engineering, part of the Faculty of Interdisciplinary Science and Technology, further elaborated on the research findings: "Our results demonstrated that the developed nanobiosensor exhibits high sensitivity and specificity for the detection of both microRNAs. The limit of detection (LOD) for miR-145 and miR-21 in buffer solution was determined to be 0.15 nM and 0.12 nM, respectively. The nanobiosensor successfully identified each target miRNA individually as well as simultaneously with high discrimination. Its successful performance in spiked human serum samples, with recovery rates ranging from 98.2% to 100% and only a slight increase in LOD (0.18 nM for miR-145 and 0.15 nM for miR-21), underscores its strong potential for real-world clinical applications."
Dr. Rahaie Jahromi emphasized the sensor's efficiency, affordability, and user-friendliness, stating: "This dual-mode colorimetric nanobiosensor offers an efficient, low-cost, and easy-to-use tool for early breast cancer diagnosis. By providing data on the concurrent presence of two miRNAs with opposing expression patterns, it can serve as a complementary approach to traditional methods in breast cancer screening and monitoring. Moreover, by modifying the probe sequences, the system can be adapted to detect other nucleic acid-based biomarkers, thereby extending its applicability to the diagnosis of various genetic disorders. This research paves a new avenue for the development of intelligent multi-biomarker monitoring systems leveraging nanotechnology and enzyme-free detection mechanisms."
The published article is available for access at the following link:
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