CRISPR/Cas-based SERS detection: A win-win integration towards real-world applications

In recent years, the Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)-associated nuclease (Cas) system has risen as a powerful tool for genome editing. Beyond its editing capabilities, CRISPR/Cas system has garnered significant interest in molecular diagnostics, especially for nucleic acid detection due to its high sensitivity and specificity. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), reliant on plasmonic nanoparticles or nanostructures, was extensively employed in biosensing owing to its exceptional sensitivity and distinctive spectral bands. The integration of SERS with CRISPR/Cas technology led to the development of numerous biosensing approaches aimed at achieving ultra-sensitive detection. This review provided an overview of both the CRISPR/Cas and SERS technology, followed by a comprehensive summary of their combined application for nucleic acid detection. Furthermore, it delved into the current landscape of CRISPR/Cas-based SERS detection, addressing existing challenges and prospects for future advancements.