⁂ Article

DGKM in Landshut

During the past few days I was at the DGKMH conference in Landshut – what a nice event! 🎉

2025 | 12. - 13. September
43. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für klinische Mikrozirkulation und Hämorheologie e.V.

Next one is in Passau (Germany).

With such an interdisciplinary audience, every session feels especially engaging. It is a small conference which is also very supportive for young researachers.

We presented our work: **“Coupling Chemistry Matters: Hybridization and Melting Differences of Oligonucleotides on Microbeads”** (Hafiz Muhammad Husnain Azam, Peter Schierack, Stefan Rödiger). In this study we show how the chemistry used to attach short single‑stranded oligonucleotides (e.g., miRNA) to microbeads influences hybridization efficiency and melting behavior. This is crucial for anyone working with microfluidics, bead‑based assays, microarrays, or related bioanalytical/biosensing techniques.

Our goal: achieve the most sensitive and specific **amplification‑free** detection of miRNAs under isothermal conditions. Our data reveal that covalent coupling via EDC strongly perturbs the nucleic acid, making sensitive detection at 37–45 °C unnecessarily difficult. EDC is very commonly used because it is a simple, robust and costefficent method to In contrast, RNA:DNA hybrids in solution or those coupled with biotin‑streptavidin perform markedly better.

We’re currently finalizing our manuscript and look forward to sharing more details soon! 📚✨


#DGKMH #Landshut #Microbeads #miRNA #Hybridization #MeltingCurves #Bioanalytics #Biosensing #Microfluidics #IsothermalDetection #NucleicAcids #Research #ScienceCommunication #OpenScience 🚀

This research investigates different methods – covalent and non-covalent (streptavidin-biotin) coupling – for attaching capture probes to microbeads used in miRNA detection assays. The key finding is that the non-covalent method yields smoother melting curves and significantly higher hybridization efficiency (90% vs 60% for covalent binding). This seemingly technical detail has important implications for developing robust and reliable bioanalytical tests, particularly those targeting microRNAs as biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases or other conditions.

The variability observed in the covalent coupling method, likely due to secondary amines on the oligonucleotides affecting melting behavior, introduces potential inconsistencies in test results. Smoother melting curves achieved with non-covalent coupling suggest more consistent and predictable binding of target miRNAs to the microbeads. This translates directly into improved analytical sensitivity – meaning the ability to detect even low concentrations of miRNA biomarkers – and greater accuracy in quantification.

For bioanalytical tests intended for clinical diagnostics or biomedical research, these improvements are crucial. Reliable detection of subtle changes in miRNA levels can be vital for early disease diagnosis, monitoring treatment response, or understanding disease progression. By optimizing the immobilization strategy on microbeads to ensure efficient and consistent hybridization, this study contributes to developing more dependable and sensitive bioanalytical tools that can ultimately advance our ability to diagnose and manage a wide range of diseases.
This research investigates different methods – covalent and non-covalent (streptavidin-biotin) coupling – for attaching capture probes to microbeads used in miRNA detection assays. The key finding is that the non-covalent method yields smoother melting curves and significantly higher hybridization efficiency (90% vs 60% for covalent binding). This seemingly technical detail has important implications for developing robust and reliable bioanalytical tests, particularly those targeting microRNAs as biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases or other conditions. The variability observed in the covalent coupling method, likely due to secondary amines on the oligonucleotides affecting melting behavior, introduces potential inconsistencies in test results. Smoother melting curves achieved with non-covalent coupling suggest more consistent and predictable binding of target miRNAs to the microbeads. This translates directly into improved analytical sensitivity – meaning the ability to detect even low concentrations of miRNA biomarkers – and greater accuracy in quantification. For bioanalytical tests intended for clinical diagnostics or biomedical research, these improvements are crucial. Reliable detection of subtle changes in miRNA levels can be vital for early disease diagnosis, monitoring treatment response, or understanding disease progression. By optimizing the immobilization strategy on microbeads to ensure efficient and consistent hybridization, this study contributes to developing more dependable and sensitive bioanalytical tools that can ultimately advance our ability to diagnose and manage a wide range of diseases.

⁂ Article

DGKM in Landshut

During the past few days I was at the DGKMH conference in Landshut – what a nice event! 🎉

2025 | 12. - 13. September
43. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für klinische Mikrozirkulation und Hämorheologie e.V.

Next one is in Passau (Germany).

With such an interdisciplinary audience, every session feels especially engaging. It is a small conference which is also very supportive for young researachers.

We presented our work: **“Coupling Chemistry Matters: Hybridization and Melting Differences of Oligonucleotides on Microbeads”** (Hafiz Muhammad Husnain Azam, Peter Schierack, Stefan Rödiger). In this study we show how the chemistry used to attach short single‑stranded oligonucleotides (e.g., miRNA) to microbeads influences hybridization efficiency and melting behavior. This is crucial for anyone working with microfluidics, bead‑based assays, microarrays, or related bioanalytical/biosensing techniques.

Our goal: achieve the most sensitive and specific **amplification‑free** detection of miRNAs under isothermal conditions. Our data reveal that covalent coupling via EDC strongly perturbs the nucleic acid, making sensitive detection at 37–45 °C unnecessarily difficult. EDC is very commonly used because it is a simple, robust and costefficent method to In contrast, RNA:DNA hybrids in solution or those coupled with biotin‑streptavidin perform markedly better.

We’re currently finalizing our manuscript and look forward to sharing more details soon! 📚✨


#DGKMH #Landshut #Microbeads #miRNA #Hybridization #MeltingCurves #Bioanalytics #Biosensing #Microfluidics #IsothermalDetection #NucleicAcids #Research #ScienceCommunication #OpenScience 🚀

This research investigates different methods – covalent and non-covalent (streptavidin-biotin) coupling – for attaching capture probes to microbeads used in miRNA detection assays. The key finding is that the non-covalent method yields smoother melting curves and significantly higher hybridization efficiency (90% vs 60% for covalent binding). This seemingly technical detail has important implications for developing robust and reliable bioanalytical tests, particularly those targeting microRNAs as biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases or other conditions.

The variability observed in the covalent coupling method, likely due to secondary amines on the oligonucleotides affecting melting behavior, introduces potential inconsistencies in test results. Smoother melting curves achieved with non-covalent coupling suggest more consistent and predictable binding of target miRNAs to the microbeads. This translates directly into improved analytical sensitivity – meaning the ability to detect even low concentrations of miRNA biomarkers – and greater accuracy in quantification.

For bioanalytical tests intended for clinical diagnostics or biomedical research, these improvements are crucial. Reliable detection of subtle changes in miRNA levels can be vital for early disease diagnosis, monitoring treatment response, or understanding disease progression. By optimizing the immobilization strategy on microbeads to ensure efficient and consistent hybridization, this study contributes to developing more dependable and sensitive bioanalytical tools that can ultimately advance our ability to diagnose and manage a wide range of diseases.
This research investigates different methods – covalent and non-covalent (streptavidin-biotin) coupling – for attaching capture probes to microbeads used in miRNA detection assays. The key finding is that the non-covalent method yields smoother melting curves and significantly higher hybridization efficiency (90% vs 60% for covalent binding). This seemingly technical detail has important implications for developing robust and reliable bioanalytical tests, particularly those targeting microRNAs as biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases or other conditions. The variability observed in the covalent coupling method, likely due to secondary amines on the oligonucleotides affecting melting behavior, introduces potential inconsistencies in test results. Smoother melting curves achieved with non-covalent coupling suggest more consistent and predictable binding of target miRNAs to the microbeads. This translates directly into improved analytical sensitivity – meaning the ability to detect even low concentrations of miRNA biomarkers – and greater accuracy in quantification. For bioanalytical tests intended for clinical diagnostics or biomedical research, these improvements are crucial. Reliable detection of subtle changes in miRNA levels can be vital for early disease diagnosis, monitoring treatment response, or understanding disease progression. By optimizing the immobilization strategy on microbeads to ensure efficient and consistent hybridization, this study contributes to developing more dependable and sensitive bioanalytical tools that can ultimately advance our ability to diagnose and manage a wide range of diseases.