Extraction and Quantification of Microrna Biomarkers for Diagnosis of Ovarian Cancer on an Integrated Microfluidic Platform

In this study, one of microRNAs associated with ovarian cancer, microRNA-21, was extracted from extracellular vesicles in plasma, isolated by antibody-coated magnetic beads, and finally quantified by a digital polymerase chain reaction module on an integrated microfluidic platform, which integrated two functional modules, including a sample pretreatment and a microRNA quantification module. With this approach, microRNA-21 extraction and quantification could be automated and the limit of detection could be as low as only 1.4 attomolar. This promising device may be therefore utilized for clinical cancer diagnosis and point-of-care applications in the near future.