Convergence of nanotechnology and CRISPR-based diagnostics
File(s)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Johnston, Midori
Dissanayake-Perera, Schan
Collins, James J
Stevens, Molly M
Dincer, Can
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
In addition to its broad application in genome engineering and therapeutics, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) technology provides field-deployable methods for the highly sensitive and selective detection of nucleic acids. From a diagnostic perspective, CRISPR-based assays hold clear clinical potential for identifying a range of both infectious and non-communicable diseases. In this Perspective we evaluate recent nanotechnologies and nanomaterials that have been engineered to interface with CRISPR systems on a nanoscale level to realize the full potential of this versatile diagnostic tool. We assess biomolecules such as enzymes and oligonucleotides, some of the more commonly used synthetic nanoparticles and detection platforms that integrate nanotechnologies in new and innovative ways. We discuss current trends and look ahead to future challenges and opportunities, including non-nucleic acid target detection, pre-amplification-free detection of nucleic acids, the development of wearable devices and integration with artificial intelligence workflows.
Date Issued
2025-10-02
Date Acceptance
2025-08-06
Citation
Nature Nanotechnology, 2025, 20 (10), pp.1365-1373
ISSN
1748-3387
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Start Page
1365
End Page
1373
Journal / Book Title
Nature Nanotechnology
Volume
20
Issue
10
Copyright Statement
Copyright © 2025, Springer Nature Limited. This is the author’s accepted manuscript made available under a CC-BY licence in accordance with Imperial’s Research Publications Open Access policy (www.imperial.ac.uk/oa-policy)
License URL
Identifier
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/41039096
PII: 10.1038/s41565-025-02018-8
Subjects
Nanotechnology
Humans
CRISPR-Cas Systems
Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats
Gene Editing
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
England
Date Publish Online
2025-10-02