01614nas a2200145   4500008004100000245011500041210006900156260002900225300001400254490000700268520110200275653001901377100002201396856005001418       2014                        eng d00aDetection of miRNA Using a Double-Strand Displacement Biosensor with a Self-Complementary Fluorescent Reporter0 aDetection of miRNA Using a DoubleStrand Displacement Biosensor w  aChampagne Illinoisc2014  a1313-19260 v863 aDesign of rapid, selective, and sensitive DNA and ribonucleic acid (RNA) biosensors capable of minimizing false positives from nuclease degradation is crucial for translational research and clinical diagnostics. We present proof-of-principle studies of an innovative micro-ribonucleic acid (miRNA) reporter-probe biosensor that displaces a self-complementary reporter, while target miRNA binds to the probe. The freed reporter folds into a hairpin structure to induce a decrease in the fluorescent signal. The self-complementarity of the reporter facilitates the reduction of false positives from nuclease degradation. Nanomolar limits of detection and quantitation were capable with this proof-of-principle design. Detection of miRNA occurs within 10 min and does not require any additional hybridization, labeling, or rinsing steps. The potential for medical applications of the reporter-probe biosensor is demonstrated by selective detection of a cancer regulating microRNA, Lethal-7 (Let-7a). Mechanisms for transporting the biosensor across the cell membrane will be the focus of future work.10aDesign Program1 aDickson, Marianne  uhttp://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/ac403866g