Super-resolution manipulation & imaging of plasmonic CRISPR-Cas9

CRISPR-Cas9 is a gene editing tool which has promise for the treatment and prevention of many complex diseases.  Together with a short guide RNA, CRISPR-Cas9 can recognize and cut the corresponding DNA at a targeted location. Viruses are traditionally used as carriers of CRISPR-Cas9 into target cells. However, viruses may cause immunogenic complications. Alternatively, gold nanoparticles can be utilized as carriers of CRISPR-Cas9. Gold nanoparticles in the near infrared regime exhibit unique optical properties. In this work, we show gold nanoparticles can be stably and efficiently crosslinked to the CRISPR complex.These alternative carriers are toxicity free to and allow effective and efficient introduction of the CRISPR system.