Ultrasensitive detection of MMP-2 via T7 RNA polymerase and CRISPR/Cas13a-Enhanced electrochemiluminescence biosensor for COPD diagnosis

In this work, an electrochemiluminescence (ECL) biosensor integrating T7 RNA polymerase amplification and CRISPR/Cas13a-mediated signal enhancement was developed for the ultrasensitive detection of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), a key biomarker associated with chronic inflammatory diseases such as COPD. A peptide nucleic acid (PNA) probe was designed to respond specifically to MMP-2 cleavage, enabling the release of DNA templates for subsequent T7 RNA polymerase-driven transcription amplification. The generated RNA triggers the collateral cleavage activity of CRISPR/Cas13a, resulting in a significant amplification of the ECL signal. The biosensor’s surface was constructed using a AuNPs/Ti₃C₂Tx/Ru(II)-PEI nanocomposite, which enhanced signal transduction and stability. Under optimized conditions, the proposed biosensor achieved a detection limit as low as 62.05 fM, demonstrating superior sensitivity compared to conventional methods, as summarized in Table 1. The platform also exhibited excellent specificity and anti-interference capability, ensuring reliable detection of MMP-2 in complex biological samples. This study provides a simple yet highly efficient strategy for enzymatic biomarker detection, offering great potential for clinical applications in early disease diagnosis and monitoring.