CRISPR-Cas12a immunosensing on glass fiber for point-of-care quantification of multiple inflammation biomarkers in osteoarthritis

Inflammation quantification through the detection of cytokines and inflammatory factors in a point-of-care scenario is crucial for managing and preventing diseases. Achieving early-stage inflammation quantification in osteoarthritis (OA), before the radiographic findings become apparent, may provide an opportunity for accurate diagnosis and effective therapy, potentially preventing joint degeneration. Here, we developed a glass-fiber-based universal system with CRISPR-Cas12a-based immunosensors (GUSCI) for simultaneous detection of multiple inflammation biomarkers using a portable fluorescence detection device. GUSCI enables the detection of five inflammation biomarkers (interleukin-4 [IL-4], IL-6, tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-α], interferon γ [IFN-γ], and matrix metalloproteinase 3 [MMP-3]) with picomolar sensitivity in a 10-μL sample while having less than 75 min of assay time and a smartphone signal readout. A cohort study of 35 synovial samples from OA patients revealed differences in inflammation levels. This "sample in, answer out" platform not only aids in understanding OA progression but also offers a versatile strategy for point-of-care diagnosis of a wide range of diseases in resource-limited settings.