Highly sensitive detection of cervical cancer biomarker miR-21 using surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)

Cervical cancer's frequent late-stage diagnosis due to asymptomatic progression necessitates advanced early detection tools. This study pioneers a SERS platform for ultrasensitive detection of miR-21—a key cervical cancer biomarker—combining thiol-modified DNA probes for high-affinity miR-21 capture with AgNP-enhanced SERS substrates that convert hybridization events into amplified Raman signals. The platform achieves sensitivity in serum and demonstrates exceptional stability through DNA-RNA duplex formation, enabling robust reproducibility in complex biofluids. Unique spectral fingerprints enable precise target quantification while exhibiting promising potential for non-invasive lesion severity prediction. By overcoming critical limitations of conventional methods—including Pap smear's low sensitivity and HPV testing's inability to detect active cancer—this approach offers a rapid, specific liquid biopsy solution to enhance early diagnosis, dynamic monitoring, and clinical outcomes in cervical cancer management.