“AND Gate” Logic Fluorescence Sensing Platform for Highly Specific Detection of Dual microRNA Biomarkers

Early diagnosis of glioma, which is the most common and highly malignant primary tumor of the central nervous system, is highly important for improving patient survival rates. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), such as miR-21 and miR-155, are aberrantly expressed in gliomas and serve as potential early diagnostic biomarkers. In this study, an “AND gate” logic fluorescence sensing platform based on upconversion nanoparticle (UCNP) and mesoporous silica (mSiO2) was used for the highly sensitive and specific measurement of the dual targets miR-21 and miR-155. Under optimized conditions, the limits of detection of the method for miR-21 and miR-155 were 0.181 nM and 0.185 nM, respectively, with linear ranges of 0.5∼10 nM. The platform can trigger significant fluorescence signals only in the presence of dual targets, and there is no response from single or interfering miRNAs. In actual serum samples, the spiked recoveries of miR-21 and miR-155 were 92%∼100.69% and 96.78%∼100.66%, respectively, with relative standard deviations of less than 7%. In summary, this sensing platform has the merits of easy operation, no need for enzyme amplification, and a low background signal. It demonstrates good accuracy and stability in intricate biological matrices, offering a promising technological approach for early identification, progression assessment, and precise diagnosis of gliomas.