A sensitive and specific method for microRNA detection and in situ imaging based on a CRISPR–Cas9 modified catalytic hairpin assembly

Abstract

We report here a method for the molecular detection of miRNAs in exosomes and imaging in living cells based on CRISPR–Cas9 and catalytic hairpin assembly. With the cascade signal amplification of catalytic hairpin assembly and high specific recognition of CRISPR–Cas9, the detection method showed a sensitivity of 23.5 fM and was applied for accurate exosomal miR-21 detection and in situ miR-21 imaging.