Critical review on where CRISPR meets molecular diagnostics

Abstract

Simple yet powerful clustered regularly-interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) technology has led to the advent of numerous developments in life sciences, biotechnology, therapeutics, and molecular diagnostics, enabled by gene editing capability. By exploiting the CRISPR-Cas system’s nucleic acid sequence detection abilities, CRISPR-based molecular diagnostics have been developed. Here, we review the development of rapid, sensitive, and inexpensive CRISPR-based molecular diagnostics. We introduce the transition of CRISPR technology to precision molecular diagnostic devices from tube to device. Next, we discuss the various nucleic acid (NA) detection methods by CRISPR. We address the importance of significant sample preparation steps for a future sample-to-answer solution, which is lacking in current CRISPR-based molecular diagnostic technology. Lastly, we discuss the extension of CRISPR-based molecular diagnostics to various critical applications. We envision CRISPR technology holds great promise for widespread use in precision NA detection applications after particular technical challenges are overcome.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Dec 21, 2020
Source ID
10.1088/2516-1091/abbf5e

Entities

People

  • Anson Lau
  • Carolyn L Ren
  • Luke P Lee

Organizations

  • Air Force Office of Scientific Research
  • National Institutes of Health
  • Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council

Tags

Readers

  • Military Science and Technology Research and Modernization.
  • Molecular Genetics
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Biotechnology