Sensitive detection of microRNAs by duplex specific nuclease-assisted target recycling and pyrene excimer switching.

Herein, we develop a simple fluorescence method for the sensitive detection of microRNAs based on duplex specific nuclease-assisted target recycling and pyrene excimer switching. This method is extremely sensitive with a detection limit of 0.58 fM, and it can be applied to absolutely detect endogenous microRNAs in cancer cells, holding great potential for clinical diagnosis and biomedical research studies.