Catalytic hairpin assembly-coupled CRISPR/Cas12a biosensor for sensitive detection of melamine in dairy products†

We combined catalytic hairpin assembly (CHA) with the Cas12a system for detecting melamine adulteration. This system involved two-step signal conversion and two-level amplification, boosting the sensor's versatility and sensitivity. The sensor showed excellent specificity and applicability for melamine detection in dairy products, and was broadened to viral nucleic acid detection.