Direct visualization of sub-femtomolar circulating microRNAs in serum based on the duplex-specific nuclease-amplified oriented assembly of gold nanoparticle dimers.

Direct visual detection of circulating microRNAs could be a big challenge due to the ultralow concentration of microRNAs in real samples. Herein, we combine the techniques of nuclease amplification and oriented assembly of gold nanoparticle dimers to realize visual detection of microRNAs in human serum with the naked eye.