Optical biosensors for miRNA detection: Lighting the path to cancer diagnosis
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Optical biosensors are regarded as the novel and highly efficient tools in cancer diagnosis. They involve the high performance in sensing of several biological biomarkers, and their sensitivity and selectivity properties can provide a more sophisticated and reliable assessment of cancer detection compared to conventional detection methods. Several biomarkers play a crucial role in the early detection of cancers and have been investigated. Among these biomarkers, circulating miRNAs are non-coding endogenous RNAs with ambiguous roles which are found in body fluids. These biomolecules typically have about 19–24 nucleotides in length. The abnormal expression of miRNAs has been demonstrated to be associated with many cancer diseases. Recently, several attempts have been made for the detection of reliable miRNA biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and prognosis. In the present review, we systematically summarize the latest advancements with focuses on optical sensing techniques, including colorimetric, fluorescence, surface plasmon resonance (SPR), surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and paper-based sensors. The review delves into their mechanisms, materials utilized, and strategies for miRNAs detection.
Source: Sensing and Bio-Sensing Research
Authors: Farid Hosseini, Mehdi Dadmehr
Institution: Payame Noor University
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,850
OpenAlex ID: W7154237897