In Situ Amplified Mutational mRNA Imaging Using a Spatially Confined CRISPR Nanoplatform

W Wen Zhao (School of Materials Science and Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, China.) Z Ziyue Zheng (Department of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Porous Materials for Separation and Conversion, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, and iChEM) R Rui Li H Haojie Xie (School of Pharmaceutical Sciences Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies Ministry of Education China Pingyuan Laboratory Tianjian Laboratory of Advanced Biomedical Sciences State Key Laboratory of Antiviral Drugs Zhengzhou University Zhengzhou Henan China) H Haiyun Yu (School of Pharmaceutical Sciences Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies Ministry of Education China Pingyuan Laboratory Tianjian Laboratory of Advanced Biomedical Sciences State Key Laboratory of Antiviral Drugs Zhengzhou University Zhengzhou Henan China) Y Yongyuan Zhang Y Yonghua Wu (School of Pharmaceutical Sciences Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies Ministry of Education China Pingyuan Laboratory Tianjian Laboratory of Advanced Biomedical Sciences State Key Laboratory of Antiviral Drugs Zhengzhou University Zhengzhou Henan China) Y Yunqing Yang Z Zhenzhong Zhang (School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University) H Hua Gao (State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontier Science Center for Smart Material) Y Yanan Li (NHC Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Microbial Drugs) K Kaixiang Zhang (School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Metabolic Dysregulation and Prevention and Treatment of Esophageal Cancer, State Key Laboratory of Antiviral Drugs, Tianjian Laboratory of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Pingyuan Laboratory)

Abstract

ABSTRACT Highly sensitive spatial analysis of RNA mutations is essential for understanding cellular heterogeneity and disease mechanisms. Herein, we developed an integrated CRISPR/Cas13a‐based nanoprobe system for rapid detection of RNA in tissue sections ( In tegrated CRISPR/ Cas 13a‐based RNA R apid D etection, InCasRD). Unlike conventional “always‐on” probes that rely on accumulated probe hybridization, InCasRD leverages the trans‐cleavage activity of Cas13a to achieve spatially confined signal amplification and a high signal‐to‐background ratio (SBR). Using InCasRD, we achieved imaging of multiple target RNAs in tumor cells within 0.5 h of incubation, including mRNA ( survivin ), microRNA (miR‐21), and circular RNA (circ1785). Furthermore, the engineered InCasRD system enabled mapping of RNA mutations, such as the EGFR L858R and ovarian tumor domain ( OTUD ) single‐nucleotide variant (SNV, 23439980 G>T), in tumor tissue sections, thereby facilitating clear tumor boundary delineation. Collectively, InCasRD is a powerful, one‐step tool for in situ RNA analysis with potential for diagnosis and precision medicine.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 65, Issue 31
Published July 27, 2026
ISSN 1433-7851
Publisher Wiley

Journal Info

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Wiley

ISSN: 1433-7851 Physical Sciences

Authors (12)

W

Wen Zhao

School of Materials Science and Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, China.

Z

Ziyue Zheng

Department of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Porous Materials for Separation and Conversion, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, and iChEM

R

Rui Li

H

Haojie Xie

School of Pharmaceutical Sciences Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies Ministry of Education China Pingyuan Laboratory Tianjian Laboratory of Advanced Biomedical Sciences State Key Laboratory of Antiviral Drugs Zhengzhou University Zhengzhou Henan China

H

Haiyun Yu

School of Pharmaceutical Sciences Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies Ministry of Education China Pingyuan Laboratory Tianjian Laboratory of Advanced Biomedical Sciences State Key Laboratory of Antiviral Drugs Zhengzhou University Zhengzhou Henan China

Y

Yongyuan Zhang

Y

Yonghua Wu

School of Pharmaceutical Sciences Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies Ministry of Education China Pingyuan Laboratory Tianjian Laboratory of Advanced Biomedical Sciences State Key Laboratory of Antiviral Drugs Zhengzhou University Zhengzhou Henan China

Y

Yunqing Yang

Z

Zhenzhong Zhang

School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University

H

Hua Gao

State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontier Science Center for Smart Material

Y

Yanan Li

NHC Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Microbial Drugs

K

Kaixiang Zhang

School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Metabolic Dysregulation and Prevention and Treatment of Esophageal Cancer, State Key Laboratory of Antiviral Drugs, Tianjian Laboratory of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Pingyuan Laboratory