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Review
. 2017 Apr;35(4):347-359.
doi: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2016.09.003. Epub 2016 Sep 28.

Molecular Beacon Nano-Sensors for Probing Living Cancer Cells

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Review

Molecular Beacon Nano-Sensors for Probing Living Cancer Cells

Tairong Kuang et al. Trends Biotechnol. 2017 Apr.

Abstract

Heterogeneities and oncogenesis essentially result from proteomic disorders orchestrated by changes in DNA and/or cytoplasmic mRNA. These genetic fluctuations, however, cannot be decoded through conventional label-free methods (e.g., patch clamps, electrochemical cellular biosensors, etc.) or morphological characterization. Molecular beacons (MBs) have recently emerged as efficient probes for interrogating biomarkers in live cancer cells. MBs hybridize with their intracellular targets (e.g., mRNAs, DNAs, or proteins), emitting a fluorescent signal that can be quantified and correlated with the expression levels of their targets. In this review we discuss MB probes with different delivery platforms for intracellular probing as well as novel MB designs for detecting a variety of targets in living cancer cells. Finally, we describe current trends in MB-based intracellular biosensors.

Keywords: cancer cells; heterogeneities; intracellular delivery; intracellular probes; mRNAs; molecular beacons.

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