Ultrasensitive detection of microRNA-21 by using specific interaction of antimonene with RNA as electrochemical biosensor.

MicroRNA exhibits different levels of expression in cancer and can affect the transformation, metastasis, and carcinogenesis of the cancer cell. Herein, we developed a novel kind of electrochemical microRNA biosensor based on two-dimensional nanomaterial of antimonene nano-flakes (AMNFs) and carbon quantum dots (CQDs) which were used as substrating to cadmium ion (Cd2+) for specific detection of breast cancer-relevant biomarker-microRNA-21. Compared to graphene, the first principle energetic calculation shows that the AMNFs have completely a stronger force interaction with single strand (ssRNA), due to the antimonene has a more delocalized 5 s/5p orbital. After the addition of complementary microRNA, due to the low adsorption affinity of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) to antimonene, the hybridized target is easy to desorb from the antimonene interface, and the oxidation peak of metal ions is significantly reduced. Results showed the microRNA-21 concentration can be detected from 100 aM to 1 nM, the limit of detection as low as 21 aM toward microRNA-21, which is 3 times lower than those of the established microRNA biosensors. The unique combination of not be attempted before existing sensing material which has special adsorption properties represents an approach to the detection of breast cancer. And it provides a promising method for early diagnosis, monitoring, and staging of breast cancer.