Indirect sandwich aptamer assay coupled structurally stabilized hairpin assisted hybridization chain reaction for femtomolar detection of cardiac troponin I

In this study, we present the development of a rapid, sensitive, and precise method for the detection of cardiac troponin I, which is crucial for early identification and intervention in acute myocardial infarction, particularly in resource-limited settings. Our approach employs a colorimetric, ultrasensitive indirect sandwich aptamer assay for cardiac troponin I detection. To enhance the structural stability of hairpins and prevent nonspecific amplification, we incorporated trimeric DNAzyme sequences required for the generation of color into the hairpin loop regions. This novel technique has the potential to significantly improve diagnostic capabilities for acute myocardial infarction in resource-constrained areas.