Analytical Challenges in DNA-Based Liquid Biopsy

DNA is the most versatile analytical reagent and the only one that can detect virtually all types of molecules and even whole cells. For nucleic acid analysis, hybridization-based assays provide the exquisite selectivity required for single-point mutation. For the rest of molecules and cells, aptamers that fold into specific three-dimensional configurations to bind them provide the ability to be selected toward a small well-defined moiety of the target that better identify it. DNA-based methods are, therefore, especially well-suited in the emerging field of liquid biopsy and to fulfill the ever-increasing demands in sensitivity accompanying the biomarker analysis by using amplification strategies.

The scope of this Research Topic covers the challenges facing DNA-based biosensors and bioassays, with a special emphasis on identifying the novel requirements of non-invasive biomarker analysis, including:

 · Strategies pursuing the detection of specific small variable regions within proteins to improve disease specificity
 · Glycosylation and methylation profiling
 · Single point mutation analysis
 · Circulating tumor DNA mutation analysis
 · Micro- and long non-coding RNA multiplexed analysis
 · Circulating tumor cells specific analysis
 · Immobilization strategies to improve the long-term stability of hybridization-based biosensors
 · Affordable biosensor platforms such as paper or pin-based devices
 · Novel transduction schemes
 · Signal amplification strategies (enzyme-free, nucleic-acid elongation, nanoparticles)
 · Label-free reagentless direct measurement

We welcome original work and review/perspective manuscripts dealing with methodological and purely analytical aspects of non-invasive biomedical analysis. Therefore, clinical studies using conventional analytical methodology are out of the scope of this Research Topic.