Aim and Background:The recent discovery about the "miRNA expression is frequently altered in cancer," and since it is now the second leading cause of cancer mortality in human society, it has opened a new direction of research. In the past several years, a very different approach to the development of various methods for the detection of miRNA biomarkers has been used. Over the past decade, an enormous progress has been made in the use of nanotechnology for molecular diagnostics.

Material and Method:For the preparation of gold nanoparticles, a certain proportion of sodium citrate and HAuCl₄ 3 H₂O were combined with each other. The mean diameter of the gold nanoparticles was calculated using the Zeta sizer. The ratios of specific oligonucleotide were added to the nanoparticles, nanoprobes made were exposed to target sequences, and the fluctuations of surface plasmons were investigated by UV-visible spectrometer.

Results:The mean diameter of the gold nanoparticles synthesized was measured by Zeta sizer about 20 nm, respectively. The optimal concentration of oligonucleotide for binding to nanoparticles was about 5pM measured by UV-visible spectrometer. The detection limit of this method for the synthesis of a single strand of miRNA with the 23mer, is about 5pM.

Conclusion:The study showed that gold nanoparticles prepared by citrate reduction method for the detection of miRNA biomarkers by using SPR properties of gold nanoparticles is possible.