High-throughput multiplexed gene and cell doping analysis through CRISPR-Cas12a system integrated with blood direct PCR
Joon‐Yeop Yi, Hyomin Choi, Minyoung Kim, Yujin Jeong, Ji‐Sook Hahn, Boram Son, Hee Ho Park, Changmin Sung
Abstract
Advancements in gene and cell therapies introduce "gene and cell doping," requiring efficient and sensitive detection methods. Here, we report a high-throughput multiplexed gene and cell doping analysis (HiMDA) using CRISPR-Cas12a system integrated with blood direct polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Blood direct PCR enables simultaneous amplification of multiple exogenous genes directly from whole-blood samples. Coupled with sequence-specific DNA recognition and fluorescence reporter system, HiMDA achieves multiplexed, on-target detection of doping genes and cells. Our results demonstrate HiMDA's feasibility with only 5 microliters of blood required for the entire 90-minute process. HiMDA exhibits exceptional sensitivity, detecting as few as 2.5 copies of doping target genes from blood-four times more sensitive than current anti-doping standards-and identifying in vivo doping up to 10 days. These findings highlight HiMDA's robust high-throughput, multiplexed capabilities, satisfying the sensitivity and selectivity demands of anti-doping research. HiMDA offers a flexible solution to meet future doping detection challenges.