CRISPR/Cas-engineered technology: Innovative approach for biosensor development

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Molecular Diagnostics
• Biosensor Technology

Background:

• Advancements in portable digital electronics and biosensor science enable real-time clinical monitoring.
• CRISPR/Cas systems, particularly CRISPR/Cas12a and CRISPR/Cas13a, are emerging as powerful tools for biosensing due to their unique enzymatic properties.
• These systems offer a revolutionary approach to portable and on-site healthcare diagnostics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the recent advances in CRISPR/Cas-based biosensors for healthcare and diagnostic applications.
• To highlight the potential of CRISPR/Cas biosensing for point-of-care (POC) devices.
• To explore the integration of nanomaterial engineering with CRISPR/Cas biosensors.

Main Methods:

• Review of literature on CRISPR/Cas systems (CRISPR/Cas12a, CRISPR/Cas13a) in biosensor design.
• Analysis of CRISPR/Cas biosensors' characteristics: portability, cost-effectiveness, ease of operation, durability, and reproducibility.
• Examination of signal amplification strategies and integration with nanomaterials.

Main Results:

• CRISPR/Cas biosensors demonstrate high sensitivity and specificity for detecting various targets.
• CRISPR/Cas12a and CRISPR/Cas13a systems exhibit collateral cleavage activity, enhancing detection capabilities.
• The integration with nanomaterials further amplifies response signals, enabling ultra-low level detection.

Conclusions:

• CRISPR/Cas-based biosensing represents a significant advancement in diagnostic technology for on-site and portable healthcare.
• These biosensors offer a promising platform for developing user-friendly, ultra-sensitive diagnostic kits.
• Future directions include further optimization and integration with advanced materials for enhanced performance.