Research Progress on Signal Conversion Based on Aptamer Combined CRISPR/Cas System in Biosensors.

The CRISPR/Cas system has been extensively used in the fields of biology, food safety, and environmental monitoring. This is in part because its can to be used in combination with isothermal amplification-mediated signal amplification technology along with its extraordinary trans-cleavage ability, which has initiated a new era of biosensing applications. The popularity of functional nucleic acids has enabled aptamers to convert non-nucleic acid substances into programmable nucleic acid sequences through methods such as direct detection, lock activation, sandwich design, induction of conformations, and split aptamers. Additionally, CRISPR/Cas systems have been extended beyond nucleic acid detection to include ions, small molecules, proteins, cells, bacteria, viruses, and other non-nucleic acid-based target substances. This article provides a brief overview of the mechanisms of action of four Cas proteins, the generation of aptamers, and their combined applications. Moreover, we focus on the research progress of biosensors based on aptamer-based signal conversion combined with the CRISPR/Cas system.