Photoactivatable nanoCRISPR/Cas9 System Based on crRNA Reversibly Immobilized on Carbon Nanoparticles

CRISPR/Cas systems combined with DNA nanostructures for biomedical applications

DNA nanostructures are easy to design and construct, have good biocompatibility, and show great potential in biosensing and drug delivery. Numerous distinctive and versatile DNA nanostructures have been developed and explored for biomedical applications. In addition to DNA nanostructures that are completely assembled from DNA, composite DNA nanostructures obtained by combining DNA with other organic or inorganic materials are also widely used in related research. The CRISPR/Cas system has attracted great attention as a powerful gene editing technology and is also widely used in biomedical diagnosis. Many researchers are committed to exploring new possibilities by combining DNA nanostructures with CRISPR/Cas systems. These explorations provide support for the development of new detection methods and cargo delivery pathways, provide inspiration for improving relevant gene editing platforms, and further expand the application scope of DNA nanostructures and CRISPR/Cas systems. This paper mainly reviews the design principles and biomedical applications of CRISPR/Cas combined with DNA nanostructures based on the types of DNA nanostructures. Finally, the application status, challenges and development prospects of CRISPR/Cas combined with DNA nanostructures in detection and delivery are summarized. It is expected that this review will enable researchers to better understand the current state of the field and provide insights into the application of CRISPR/Cas systems and the development of DNA nanostructures.

Optically Controlled CRISPR-Cas9 and Cre Recombinase for Spatiotemporal Gene Editing: A Review

CRISPR-Cas9 and Cre recombinase, two tools extensively used for genome interrogation, have catalyzed key breakthroughs in our understanding of complex biological processes and diseases. However, the immense complexity of biological systems and off-target effects hinder clinical applications, necessitating the development of platforms to control gene editing over spatial and temporal dimensions. Among the strategies developed for inducible control, light is particularly attractive as it is noninvasive and affords high spatiotemporal resolution. The principles for optical control of Cas9 and Cre recombinase are broadly similar and involve photocaged enzymes and small molecules, engineered split- and single-chain constructs, light-induced expression, and delivery by light-responsive nanocarriers. Few systems enable spatiotemporal control with a high dynamic range without loss of wild-type editing efficiencies. Such systems posit the promise of light-activatable systems in the clinic. While the prospect of clinical applications is palpably exciting, optimization and extensive preclinical validation are warranted. Judicious integration of optically activated CRISPR and Cre, tailored for the desired application, may help to bridge the "bench-to-bedside" gap in therapeutic gene editing.