Ultrasensitive SERS detection of highly homologous miRNAs by generating 3D organic-nanoclusters and a functionalized chip with locked nucleic acid probes.

Herein, a new finding is reported that 3D organic-nanoclusters (3DONs) with superior SERS properties as an original reporter could accurately and sensitively distinguish microRNAs (miRNAs) with highly similar sequences, even with a single-nucleotide difference, as a result of a functionalized chip with locked nucleic acid probes (LNAP-chip) and rolling circle replication (RCA). Furthermore, the innovative SERS-method could be used to broadly discriminate cancer cells from normal cells and evaluate changes in the expression levels of intracellular miRNAs.