CRISPR Digital Sensing: From Micronano-Collaborative Chip to Biomolecular Detection

The Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) sensing technology proved to be valuable during the COVID-19 pandemic through its sensitivity, specificity, robustness, and versatility. However, issues such as overreliance on amplification, susceptibility to false positives, lack of quantification strategies, and complex operation procedures have hindered its broader application in bioanalysis and clinical diagnostics. The collision between micronano-collaborative chips and CRISPR technology has effectively addressed these bottlenecks, offering innovative solutions for diagnosis and treatment. Unlike conventional micronano chips, micronano digital chips enhance CRISPR's response to trace amounts of target molecules by leveraging highly controllable local environments and compartmentalized microreactors. This advancement improves detection efficiency and revolutionizes traditional in vitro bioanalytical processes. First, the working principles, fabrication techniques, and performance metrics of CRISPR-based digital droplet microfluidics and microarray chips are examined. Then, the applications of CRISPR digital sensing chips in bioassays are reviewed, emphasizing their importance in advancing in vitro detection systems for gene editing. Finally, the prospects of CRISPR digital sensing technology are explored, particularly its potential for body surface biomonitoring and its broader development opportunities in the biomedical field.