TtAgo-coupled-multiplex-digtal-RPA-CRISPR/Cas12a (TCMDC) for EGFR mutations detection

Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) is an important target for the early evaluation, treatment, and postoperative follow-up in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Current detection technologies suffer from extended detection time and high rate of false positive amplification. Therefore, the development of rapid, highly sensitive and specific detection methods is of great significance for improving the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer. In this study, we proposed a fast and sensitive detection method termed Thermus thermophilus Argonaute (Ttago)-Coupled-Multiplex-digital-recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA)-Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas12a (TCMDC) detection method, integrating EGFR mutation template enrichment. Based on the cleavage principle of TtAgo, the wild type (WT) template was enriched under the action of double-guide DNA. Two CRISPR RNAs, not restricted by protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) sites, were introduced to target EGFR genes. By combining RPA with CRISPR-Cas12a, we established a single-pot, ultra-sensitive (1 copy, 0.1 %), and visually detectable method for EGFR detection. We further verified the feasibility of this approach using clinical serum samples from lung cancer patients, achieving rapid (within 1 h) and visual detection of EGFR, thereby presenting a promising clinical tool for the detection of lung cancer.