CRISPR/Cas12a-Based Biosensing: Advances in Mechanisms and Applications for Nucleic Acid Detection

Area of Science:

• Molecular Biology
• Biotechnology
• Diagnostics

Background:

• Nucleic acid detection is vital for molecular diagnostics.
• CRISPR/Cas12a technology has expanded nucleic acid detection capabilities.
• Cas12a's collateral cleavage activity enables sensitive detection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the detection principle and applications of CRISPR/Cas12a biosensors.
• To discuss recent innovations and challenges in CRISPR/Cas12a-based diagnostics.
• To provide insights for future development in personalized medicine.

Main Methods:

• Utilizes the Cas12a enzyme's non-specific single-strand cleavage activity.
• Employs fluorescent probes (ssDNA/RNA) for signal generation.
• Observes fluorescence changes upon target recognition and cleavage.

Main Results:

• CRISPR/Cas12a biosensors offer superior portability, simplicity, speed, and efficiency compared to conventional methods.
• Demonstrates broad applicability in identifying infectious agents and disease biomarkers.
• Highlights significant potential for various applications and theoretical research.

Conclusions:

• CRISPR/Cas12a biosensors represent a promising advancement in nucleic acid analysis and molecular diagnostics.
• Challenges include simplifying reactions, enhancing precision, and clinical translation.
• Future research will focus on overcoming these hurdles for personalized medicine applications.