CRISPR Chip

New CRISPR Chip-that can detect genetic mutations within a minute without DNA amplification.

Coding languages are not just being used for computer programming but also for programming the human genome. It’s true. Researchers have created biological circuits that allow researchers to hack into living cells. This biological circuit is CRISPR/Cas9, genome editing technology, composed of two components that can edit your genome precisely. Experts predicted that this gene-editing technology will transform the lives of our planet. By the advent of CRISPR, researchers are harnessing the potential of CRISPR for multiple purposes in biological research.  CRISPR potential in diagnosis is recently being explored.

Kiana Aran, a professor at Keck Graduate Institute and bioengineers of the California University of Barkley combined the CRISPR with electronic graphene made transistors to develop a new hand made a device that can detect specific genetic mutations without DNA amplification in a minute.

‘’This is the first time that transistors can use CRISPR to search out potential genetic mutations’’ said Kiana Aran.

The need for CRISPR-Chip

Recently CRISPR has been used for diagnostic kits, SHERLOCK, HOLMES, and Mammoth Biosciences are prime examples. These all kits require DNA amplification. Any sort of clinical environment DNA amplification require minimum three separate workflow, sample preparation, run the amplification and one for detection. depends on heavy instrumentation and is time consuming.

“Everyone is thinking about the therapeutic application of CRISPR, but sometimes we forget that the first thing that CRISPR does is searching,” says Kiana Arian.

Aran has  developed a chip by which you can detect mutation simple in your office without sending it to 23& me and amplification.

How CRISPR-Chip works?

Aran used her electrical engineering knowledge to solve this problem. Graphene, built of single atomic layer of carbon is so sensitive that can detect single change in DNA sequences from whole genome without PCR amplification.

‘’Graphene  super sensitivity  enabled us to develop CRISPR based searching hand made device’’ says Aran.

You know that CRISPR used two components, gRNA and Cas9 protein to develop specific cut in DNA. To harness the specify gene targeting ability of CRISPR,  researcher deactivated the Cas 9 protien-varient Cas 9 can find the desired DNA sequence, but doesn’t cut and tethered it to transistors made up of graphene. Which changes the electrical conductance of graphene transistor. These changes be detected on device.

Future Applications

“With a digital device, you could design guide RNAs throughout the whole disease causing gene , and then you could just screen the entire sequence of the gene in a matter of hours. You could screen parents, or even newborns, for the presence or absence of abnormal mutation —and then, if the mutation is found, therapy could be started early, before the disease has actually developed.

‘’Rapid genetic testing could be used to help doctors for individualized treatment of patients’’ says Aran.

Finally CRISPR chip works on septicity principle, it can be used to test the CRISPR gene editing experiments to verify that guided RNA is designed correctly or not. Combining nanotechnology with modern biology will open the new door for treatments diseases.

Reference

Detection of unamplified target genes via CRISPR–Cas9 immobilized on a graphene field-effect transistor, Nature Biomedical Engineering (2019). DOI: 10.1038/s41551-019-0371-x , https://www.nature.com/articles/s41551-019-0371-x

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