Nucleic acid-based biosensors are emerging as transformative platforms that bridge molecular precision with technological innovation, reshaping diagnostics, therapeutics, and environmental monitoring. Their programmability, high specificity, and compatibility with diverse transduction mechanisms position them as foundational tools for next-generation healthcare and biotechnology. Recent advances in nucleic acid detection platforms, particularly CRISPR-Cas systems, enabled ultra-sensitive and single-nucleotide resolution detection, while nanotechnology has provided powerful means of signal amplification, stabilization, and targeted delivery. These developments have accelerated applications ranging from rapid genetic testing and cancer biomarker detection to wearable and implantable biosensors for real-time monitoring in biofluids. Artificial intelligence further enhances biosensor performance by enabling error correction, predictive analytics, and integration into digital health ecosystems. Despite these advances, current biosensors face limitations in stability, reproducibility, large-scale manufacturing, and regulatory acceptance, underscoring the need for standardized protocols and ethical frameworks addressing data privacy and equitable access. Looking forward, the convergence of synthetic biology, biohybrid architectures, and self-powered sensing devices promises to expand biosensor capabilities beyond detection toward autonomous therapeutic and environmental interventions. This review synthesizes recent innovations in nucleic acid-based biosensing, highlights current challenges, and outlines future directions, offering a forward-looking perspective on how CRISPR-enabled, nanotechnology-enhanced, and AI-integrated biosensors are poised to reshape diagnostics and catalyze a new era of intelligent and patient-centered biotechnology.
Yolcu et al. (2026) studied this question.