The collaborative research led by Professor Guozhen LIU, School of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and her team, and Professor TIAN Kang, Dalian Medical University, published their paper entitled “CRISPR/Cas12a immunosensing on glass fiber for point-of-care quantification of multiple inflammation biomarkers in osteoarthritis”, in Device. The first author of the article is ZOU Siyi, a doctoral student of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen. The corresponding author is Professor Guozhen LIU.

Highlights

1. Inflammation quantification for early point-of-care diagnosis of osteoarthritis

2. Simultaneous detection of multiple inflammation biomarkers in synovial fluid

3. CRISPR-Cas biosensing integrated with liquid metal nanoparticles to enhance sensitivity

4. Integrated portable device with fluorescence signal readouts by smartphone

The Bigger Picture

Accurate and sensitive quantification of inflammation in osteoarthritis can lead to precise diagnosis and timely interventions, which can potentially avert joint degeneration and improve patient outcomes. This study addresses a critical need in point-of-care quantification of inflammation, particularly in the context of osteoarthritis. A portable device integrated with nanofabricated glass fiber for sampling of a minimum sample volume and a CRISPR-Cas12a system for immunosensing enables the simultaneous detection of multiple inflammatory factors with high sensitivity and rapid response time. Such advancements in sensitive point-of-care testing could revolutionize disease management as well as facilitate personalized therapy, especially in resource-limited settings. As a versatile, cost-effective, and portable tool for sensitive inflammation monitoring, the device promises diagnosis and management of various diseases, ranging from degenerative disease to aging, by detecting multiple biomarkers.

Summary

Inflammation quantification through the detection of cytokines and inflammatory factors in a point-of-care scenario is crucial for managing and preventing diseases. Achieving early-stage inflammation quantification in osteoarthritis (OA), before the radiographic findings become apparent, may provide an opportunity for accurate diagnosis and effective therapy, potentially preventing joint degeneration. Here, we developed a glass-fiber-based universal system with CRISPR-Cas12a-based immunosensors (GUSCI) for simultaneous detection of multiple inflammation biomarkers using a portable fluorescence detection device. GUSCI enables the detection of five inflammation biomarkers (interleukin-4 [IL-4], IL-6, tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-α], interferon γ [IFN-γ], and matrix metalloproteinase 3 [MMP-3]) with picomolar sensitivity in a 10-μL sample while having less than 75 min of assay time and a smartphone signal readout. A cohort study of 35 synovial samples from OA patients revealed differences in inflammation levels. This “sample in, answer out” platform not only aids in understanding OA progression but also offers a versatile strategy for point-of-care diagnosis of a wide range of diseases in resource-limited settings.

Link to original article

Siyi Zou, Jingnan Li, Sheng Lu, Danyu Li, Yuxuan Liu, Weiguo Zhang, Xiaolin Cui, J. Justin Gooding, Kang Tian*, Guozhen Liu*, CRISPR/Cas12a immunosensing on glass fiber for point-of-care quantifying multiple inflammation biomarkers in osteoarthritis, Device, 2024, 2, 100319, 1-13, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.device.2024.100319