Intracellular biosensors by functional nanomaterial-integrated CRISPR technologies for real-time molecular sensing

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Nanotechnology
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• CRISPR technology, initially for genome editing, is now a key platform for intracellular biosensing.
• CRISPR-associated proteins (Cas9, Cas12, Cas13) offer programmability and target specificity for biosensor development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review advancements in CRISPR-powered biosensors for dynamic intracellular monitoring.
• To highlight the role of nanotechnology in enhancing CRISPR biosensor performance and applications.

Main Methods:

• Integration of nanotechnology (gold nanoparticles, quantum dots, etc.) with CRISPR systems.
• Engineering CRISPR biosensors for detecting nucleic acids, non-coding RNAs, and metabolites.
• Developing CRISPR-nanotechnology hybrids for multiplex analysis and single-cell resolution.

Main Results:

• Nanomaterials improve intracellular delivery, signal amplification, and stability of CRISPR biosensors.
• CRISPR-nanotechnology hybrids enable multimodal sensing and high-resolution cellular analysis.
• Demonstrated potential for real-time monitoring of cellular processes and molecular events.

Conclusions:

• CRISPR-based intracellular biosensors, enhanced by nanotechnology, offer revolutionary potential for diagnostics and therapeutics.
• Future applications include precision medicine, synthetic biology, and advanced therapeutic monitoring.
• Addressing challenges in delivery, biocompatibility, and long-term monitoring is crucial for clinical translation.