Table 1 Main methods to detect and quantify noncoding RNAs

ncRNA

Northern blot

Gold standard;

Specificity

Limited sensitivity;

Low throughput;

Time consuming;

Limited for quantification

([42], 11679671);

([43], 18025253)

ncRNA

SPR

Sensitivity

Expensive read-out system;

High background signal;

Limited throughput

([44], 17061884);

([45], 21284927)

ncRNA

In situ hybridization

Locates miRNA in tissue and cell compartments

Low throughput;

Invasive sample collection;

Limited sensitivity;

Limited quantification

([46], 16369549);

([47], 22482439)

ncRNA

Microarray

High throughput

Fair specificity;

Medium sensitivity;

Limited quantification

([48], 17675362);

([49], 22593088)

ncRNA

Bioluminescence

Sensitivity

High costs;

Difficult to standardize

([50], 18302417)

ncRNA

Electrochemical detection

Cost-effective sensitive sensors

Verified background signal;

Special nanoparticle labels

([51], 19367400);

([52], 21207998)

ncRNA

RNA sequencing

High throughput;

Sensitivity;

Specificity

Complex data analysis;

High costs

([53], 20473869);

([54], 22298638)

ncRNA

Nanopore-based RNA detection

Single-molecule detection;

Contractible;

Possibilities for high throughput;

Rapid

Requiring sophisticated detection instruments;

Complex data analysis

([55], 20972437);

([56], 21892163)

ncRNA

qRT-PCR

Semi-high throughput;

Good quantification;

Amplification enables;

Sensitivity

Difficult to distinguish single-nucleotide differences;

Not for ncRNA discovery

([57], 21867561);

([58], 22332658)

ncRNA

Flow cytometry-FISH

High throughput detection of in situ hybridization

No quantification;

No location of the ncRNA

([59], 22057868)

ncRNA

Nanoresonator chip

Quantitative sensitivity;

Specificity

Limited reproducibility;

Complex production process for nanoresonators

([60], 22115599)

ncRNA

Base stacking hybridization coupling with time-resolved fluorescence technology

Rapid,

Universal label;

Sensitivity

Needs fluorescent tag

([61], 22365748)

ncRNA

Scanometric miRNA array

Sensitivity

High background signal

([62], 22489825)

ncRNA

Fluorescence quenching on graphene oxide

Amplification process;

Sensitivity

High costs

([63], 22510208)