Programmable CRISPR-responsive smart materials

2019/08/23 by Max A. English, Luis R. Soenksen, Raphaël V. Gayet +6 · 359 citations
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Engineering · #Advanced Memory and Neural Computing #Advanced biosensing and bioanalysis techniques #Biology #CRISPR #CRISPR and Genetic Engineering #Computational biology #Computer science #Gene #Genetics #Materials science #Nanotechnology

paper · open access · doi:10.1126/science.aaw5122

published in Science 365(6455), 780-785 (American Association for the Advancement of Science)

openalex publication_date 2019/08/23 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05

Abstract

Stimuli-responsive materials activated by biological signals play an increasingly important role in biotechnology applications. We exploit the programmability of CRISPR-associated nucleases to actuate hydrogels containing DNA as a structural element or as an anchor for pendant groups. After activation by guide RNA-defined inputs, Cas12a cleaves DNA in the gels, thereby converting biological information into changes in material properties. We report four applications: (i) branched poly(ethylene glycol) hydrogels releasing DNA-anchored compounds, (ii) degradable polyacrylamide-DNA hydrogels encapsulating nanoparticles and live cells, (iii) conductive carbon-black-DNA hydrogels acting as degradable electrical fuses, and (iv) a polyacrylamide-DNA hydrogel operating as a fluidic valve with an electrical readout for remote signaling. These materials allow for a range of in vitro applications in tissue engineering, bioelectronics, and diagnostics.

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• Point-of-care CRISPR/Cas nucleic acid detection: Recent advances, challenges and opportunities. [europepmc]
• Integrating CRISPR-Cas12a with a DNA circuit as a generic sensing platform for amplified detection of microRNA. [europepmc]
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• Translational Applications of Hydrogels. [europepmc]
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• Lipid- and Polymer-Based Nanoparticle Systems for the Delivery of CRISPR/Cas9. [europepmc]
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• Bone Regeneration Using MMP-Cleavable Peptides-Based Hydrogels. [europepmc]
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• Towards application of CRISPR-Cas12a in the design of modern viral DNA detection tools (Review). [europepmc]
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• A lab-on-a-chip for the concurrent electrochemical detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA and anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in saliva and plasma. [europepmc]
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• Topological barrier to Cas12a activation by circular DNA nanostructures facilitates autocatalysis and transforms DNA/RNA sensing. [europepmc]

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