Analytical approaches in microRNA therapeutics

MicroRNAs are non-coding oligonucleotides with regulatory roles in virtually all biological processes. Deregulation of microRNAs lead to impaired cellular function and disease development. Thus, microRNAs are of potential diagnostic and therapeutic relevance. Several technology platforms are currently available for quantitative microRNA analysis and profiling, including the most extensively used PCR-based methods. Each of these technologies has its own advantages and limitations. Mass spectrometry combines low-level detectability with high selectivity and has been used for oligonucleotide sequence analysis. Its use for native microRNA analysis has been limited due to the very low abundance and chemical similarity of microRNAs. However, with the advancement of technology, this analytical method has become a powerful complementary tool for comprehensive analysis of native and synthetic microRNAs. This brief review highlights current developments in the field of microRNA analytics, detection techniques for extracellular microRNAs, their synthetic inhibitors, and the dynamics of their interactions. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.