Trends in nucleic acids and non-nucleic acids nanostructures-enhanced site-specific DNA methylation biosensing

The early detection of diseases, leveraging DNA methylation as a crucial biomarker, has seen remarkable progress through the integration of nucleic acids and non-nucleic acids nanostructures in biosensing platforms. This review explores how nucleic acids-based nanostructures, such as DNA tetrahedra and G-quadruplexes, alongside diverse non-nucleic acids nanomaterials like metal nanoparticles, carbon-based nanomaterials, and nanopores, are propelling advancements in sensitivity, specificity, and analytical depth for site-specific DNA methylation analysis. With a focus on key trends in signal amplification and enhanced specificity, we examine the evolving role of nanostructures in addressing the challenges of methylation profiling within complex biological environments. Through a comprehensive analysis of recent developments, this review showcases how these developments pave the way for major enhancements in precision diagnostics, thereby expanding the efficacy and accuracy of DNA methylation-based biosensing approaches for the early detection of diseases.