Exploring the potential of fluorescent carbon and quantum dots for highly specific detection by molecular recognition of virus miRNAs

Project funded by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P. (FCT), grant 2021.09393.BD. Runs 2021-10-01 to 2025-09-30. Source: OpenAIRE Graph, from the funder's project data (collected by OpenAIRE on 2025-07-18); national funding data, not CORDIS. Abstract given by the source: Virus detection based on microRNAs, particularly using point-of-care tests, is a current and increasingly important screening asset with cost, time and accessibility advantages over traditional methods, namely RT-PCR or Northern Blotting used extensively in routine analyses. This PhD proposal aims at the development of expeditious and low-cost virus detection schemes by exploiting the features of carbon dots (CDs) and quantum dots (QDs) regarding native fluorescence and excellent biocompatibility, through selective hybridization to specific virus miRNAs, and at their implementation on highly accurate and precise tests. The CDs and QDs will be functionalized with ssDNA sequences that will act as nucleotide-based probes for molecular recognition of virus microRNAs, enabling virus infection detection with high specificity and efficiency. Development and validation of rapid tests targeting miRNA-122, miRNA-150 and miRNA-26 will be pursued, all of which have been reported to be significantly dysregulated in HBV, HBC and H1N1 virus infections.

Original source.

Source: OpenAIRE Graph: projects of national funders, OpenAIRE, from the project data of Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P. (FCT). Retrieved 2026-10-28. Licence: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (OpenAIRE Graph). Selected metadata, adapted presentation; the publisher's record is authoritative. No endorsement by the source is implied. Licence: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0).

AI-assisted summary: The project, funded by FCT, runs from October 1, 2021, to September 30, 2025, focusing on developing low-cost virus detection methods using fluorescent carbon dots and quantum dots for specific recognition of virus miRNAs. Suggested technology pillar: sensing. Generated by AI from the public source text; it may contain errors and the original source is authoritative.