CRISPR/Dx-based colorimetric and electrochemical detection systems for POCT applications

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology and Molecular Diagnostics
• Point-of-Care Testing (POCT)
• CRISPR/Cas Gene Editing Technology

Background:

• Point-of-care testing (POCT) is crucial for timely disease diagnosis.
• CRISPR/Cas technology offers precise molecular detection capabilities.
• Integration of CRISPR/Cas with commercial devices aims to enhance POCT accessibility and efficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To discuss advancements in CRISPR/Cas technology for POCT.
• To describe the molecular principles of integrated CRISPR-based detection systems.
• To highlight applications in disease diagnostics, including early tumor detection and cancer screening.

Main Methods:

• Integration of CRISPR/Cas systems with commercial analytical devices (e.g., personal glucose meter - PGM, pregnancy test strips - PTS).
• Utilizing chromogenic substrates like horseradish peroxidase (HRP) for signal generation.
• Analysis of visible colorimetric and electrochemical signal readouts for intuitive results.

Main Results:

• CRISPR-PGM, CRISPR-PTS, and CRISPR-HRP platforms enable portable, economical, rapid, and high-throughput diagnostics.
• Detection systems provide visible and intuitive results without requiring specialized equipment or skilled operators.
• Demonstrated potential for pathogen detection, molecular diagnostics, and early tumor detection/pan-cancer screening.

Conclusions:

• CRISPR-based diagnostics show significant promise for revolutionizing POCT.
• Current challenges and technical shortcomings in CRISPR-based POCT are identified.
• Future perspectives focus on improving performance for broader applications and discussing ethical implications of home self-testing.