CRISPR-based microRNA biosensors for rapid detection of lung cancer biomarkers
- 1Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmacy, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
- 2Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, Samarkand State Medical University, 18 Amir Temur Street, Samarkand, Uzbekistan
- 3Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences, Hourani Center for Applied Scientific Research, Al-Ahliyya Amman University, Amman, Jordan
Abstract
Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related mortality globally, primarily due to late-stage diagnosis. The development of robust, rapid, and non-invasive diagnostic tools is therefore a paramount objective in oncology. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), stable regulatory molecules dysregulated in carcinogenesis, have emerged as ideal circulating biomarkers for early detection. However, their clinical translation has been hindered by the limitations of conventional detection methods, including complex procedures, insufficient sensitivity, and a lack of point-of-care compatibility. The recent convergence of miRNA biology with CRISPR-Cas biosensing technology is poised to overcome these barriers, heralding a new era in molecular diagnostics. This review comprehensively synthesizes the rapid advancements in CRISPR-based biosensors for the rapid detection of lung cancer miRNA biomarkers. We begin by delineating the well-established landscape of lung cancer-associated miRNAs, detailing the mechanistic roles of key oncomiRs like miR-21 and miR-155 and highlighting the clinical validity of miRNA signatures from liquid biopsies. The core of the review provides a critical examination of the CRISPR-Cas biosensing architecture, focusing on the distinct mechanisms of RNA-targeting Cas13 and DNA-targeting Cas12a, which are engineered for direct and amplified miRNA detection, respectively. We further explore the sophisticated engineering strategies that augment their performance, including integration with isothermal amplification techniques (e.g., HCR, CHA, RCA) and various transduction modalities (electrochemical, fluorescent, colorimetric). A critical appraisal of the analytical and clinical performance of these platforms reveals consistent achievement of attomolar sensitivity and single-base specificity in detecting targets like miR-21 in human serum and plasma, often within hours. Finally, we address the prevailing challenges -including off-target effects, reagent stability, and regulatory pathways- and outline the promising future directions. These encompass multiplexed detection of miRNA panels, integration with multi-analyte liquid biopsy platforms, synergy with artificial intelligence, and the development of fully automated, handheld devices. We conclude that CRISPR-based miRNA biosensors represent a transformative diagnostic paradigm, holding immense potential to become a mainstay in clinical oncology for enabling rapid, precise, and accessible early detection of lung cancer, thereby paving the way for improved survival rates through timely intervention.
Related
- CRISPR-Enabled Transition to Adsorption-Coupled Redox Transport: Toward the Use of Conventional Voltammetry in Electrochemical Biosensors
- Identification of prognostic biomarkers for nasopharyngeal carcinoma through microRNA‑mRNA network analysis combined with screening of immune‑related genes
- Base-mismatched crRNA in CRISPR Enabled Universal One-pot Rapid Nucleic Acid Detection
- Development and Validation of a Real-Time One-Pot RPA-CRISPR/Cas-Based Assay for Detection of ‘Candidatus Liberibacter Asiaticus,’ the Agent Associated with Citrus Greening Disease or Huanglongbing (HLB)
- Ultrafast visual detection of Streptococcus suis via HtpsC‐targeted LAMP–CRISPR–Cas12a coupled with lateral flow immunochromatography
BibTeX
@article{abuhassan2026crisprbased,
title = {{CRISPR-based microRNA biosensors for rapid detection of lung cancer biomarkers}},
author = {Qamar Abuhassan and Aziz Kubaev and Mutaz Al-khreisat},
journal = {Journal of Preventive and Complementary Medicine},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.22034/jpcm.2026.590083.1385},
url = {https://doi.org/10.22034/jpcm.2026.590083.1385},
note = {CC BY-NC},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - CRISPR-based microRNA biosensors for rapid detection of lung cancer biomarkers
AU - Qamar Abuhassan
AU - Aziz Kubaev
AU - Mutaz Al-khreisat
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/25
JO - Journal of Preventive and Complementary Medicine
DO - 10.22034/jpcm.2026.590083.1385
UR - https://doi.org/10.22034/jpcm.2026.590083.1385
AB - Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related mortality globally, primarily due to late-stage diagnosis. The development of robust, rapid, and non-invasive diagnostic tools is therefore a paramount objective in oncology. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), stable regulatory molecules dysregulated in carcinogenesis, have emerged as ideal circulating biomarkers for early detection. However, their clinical translation has been hindered by the limitations of conventional detection methods, including complex procedures, insufficient sensitivity, and a lack of point-of-care compatibility. The recent convergence of miRNA biology with CRISPR-Cas biosensing technology is poised to overcome these barriers, heralding a new era in molecular diagnostics. This review comprehensively synthesizes the rapid advancements in CRISPR-based biosensors for the rapid detection of lung cancer miRNA biomarkers. We begin by delineating the well-established landscape of lung cancer-associated miRNAs, detailing the mechanistic roles of key oncomiRs like miR-21 and miR-155 and highlighting the clinical validity of miRNA signatures from liquid biopsies. The core of the review provides a critical examination of the CRISPR-Cas biosensing architecture, focusing on the distinct mechanisms of RNA-targeting Cas13 and DNA-targeting Cas12a, which are engineered for direct and amplified miRNA detection, respectively. We further explore the sophisticated engineering strategies that augment their performance, including integration with isothermal amplification techniques (e.g., HCR, CHA, RCA) and various transduction modalities (electrochemical, fluorescent, colorimetric). A critical appraisal of the analytical and clinical performance of these platforms reveals consistent achievement of attomolar sensitivity and single-base specificity in detecting targets like miR-21 in human serum and plasma, often within hours. Finally, we address the prevailing challenges -including off-target effects, reagent stability, and regulatory pathways- and outline the promising future directions. These encompass multiplexed detection of miRNA panels, integration with multi-analyte liquid biopsy platforms, synergy with artificial intelligence, and the development of fully automated, handheld devices. We conclude that CRISPR-based miRNA biosensors represent a transformative diagnostic paradigm, holding immense potential to become a mainstay in clinical oncology for enabling rapid, precise, and accessible early detection of lung cancer, thereby paving the way for improved survival rates through timely intervention.
SN - 3041-9700
SN - 3041-9921
ER -