Detecting Tumor-Specific Tiny Particles Using a Membrane-Bound CRISPR System Activated Without Washing

A detection platform achieved 100% accuracy in distinguishing advanced-stage cancer patients from healthy individuals.

• The system utilizes a split Cas12a activator composed of two short DNA fragments, enhancing both binding affinity and activation efficiency.
• Target protein binding induces a change in the aptamer structure, allowing the separated activator fragments to assemble and activate Cas12a.
• The method localizes the cleavage reaction to the membrane surface of extracellular vesicles, improving catalytic efficiency.
• The platform enables sensitive detection of tumor-specific extracellular vesicles, achieving 77.5% accuracy for early-stage cancer detection.
• This approach may provide a wash-free, one-pot solution for extracellular vesicle analysis and offers potential for monitoring changes after surgery.

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