CRISPR/Cas9 in the era of nanomedicine and synthetic biology

The CRISPR/Cas system was first discovered as a defense mechanism in bacteria and is now used as a tool for precise gene-editing applications. Rapidly evolving, it is increasingly applied in therapeutics. However, concerns about safety, specificity, and delivery still limit its potential. In this context, we introduce the concept of nanogenetics and speculate how the rational engineering of the CRISPR/Cas machinery could advance the biomedical field. In nanogenetics, the advantages of traditional approaches of synthetic biology could be expanded by nanotechnology approaches, enabling the design of a new generation of intrinsically safe and specific genome-editing platforms.

Automated summary

The CRISPR/Cas system, originally discovered as a defense mechanism in bacteria, is now being used as a precise gene editing tool. Safety, specificity, and delivery concerns limit its potential. The concept of nanogenetics is introduced as a way to advance the biomedical field through the rational engineering of the CRISPR/Cas machinery, enabling the design of safer and more specific genome editing platforms.