Sensitive microRNA detection on an original microfluidic chip

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18K04917
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 28050:Nano/micro-systems-related
• Research Institution: Institute of Physical and Chemical Research
• Principal Investigator: Hosokawa Kazuo 国立研究開発法人理化学研究所, 開拓研究本部, 専任研究員 (00373366)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: マイクロ流体チップ / マイクロRNA

Outline of Final Research Achievements

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are expected to be useful as a next-generation biomarker for early diagnosis of diseases including cancer. This study aimed at developing a rapid and sensitive detection method for miRNAs by utilizing the “power-free microfluidic chip”, which had been developed by our research group. We had already succeeded in detection of miRNAs in 20 min. Therefore, in this study, improvement of detection sensitivity was a major challenge. First, we have optimized the composition of the reaction buffer. The optimized reaction buffer was tested with 5 different miRNA sequences. As a result, the detection limits were improved 10- to 100-fold. Next, the optimized reaction buffer was applied to miRNA detection from a human sample. The amounts of 3 endogenous miRNAs, measured by the developed microfluidic chip, well agreed with those by conventional quantitative PCR.

Free Research Field

分析化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

マイクロRNA（miRNA）による遺伝子の発現制御は，細胞の分化・がん化・アポトーシスなど細胞活動の根幹に関わっており，これらの異常はがんやアルツハイマー病の発病・進行に直結するものである． miRNAはこれら疾病を早期診断するためのバイオマーカーとして期待されている．従来，miRNAの検出・定量には定量逆転写PCR，マイクロアレイなどが用いられてきたが，測定時間とコストに課題がある．本研究で得られたmiRNA測定法は従来法に比べて迅速・低コストであり，上記疾病の簡易診断の実現に近づいただけではなく，一般的な生物学研究にも有用なツールとなりうる．