Nowadays, with the rapid development of biotechnology, the CRISPR/Cas technology in particular has produced many new traits and products. Therefore, rapid and high-resolution detection methods for biotechnology products are urgently needed, which is extremely important for safety regulation. Recently, in addition to being gene editing tools, CRISPR/Cas systems have also been used in detection of various targets. CRISPR/Cas systems can be successfully used to detect nucleic acids, proteins, metal ions and others in combination with a variety of technologies, with great application prospects in the future. However, there are still some challenges need to be addressed. In this review, we will list some detection methods of genetically modified (GM) crops, gene-edited crops and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) based on CRISPR/Cas systems, hoping to bring some inspiration or ideas to readers.

Nucleic acid analysis technology is the key to cracking the genetic information of life, which is very important for insight into disease diagnosis, drug development, food safety and environmental monitoring. The successful implementation of nucleic acid analysis depends on efficient and accurate nucleic acid sample purification technology. Traditional nucleic acid extraction methods are not only time-consuming and difficult to handle but also require skilled operators. Nanotechnology is gradually innovating nucleic acid extraction, simplifying the process and promoting biological science into a new era. The interaction modes between nanomaterials and nucleic acid molecules are diverse, including electrostatic interaction, covalent binding (direct covalent bonding, biotin-avidin system, disulfide bond connection, coordination bond, azide-alkyne click reaction, EDC/NHS coupling), π-π stacking effect, hydrogen bond formation, hydrophobic interaction and ion exchange. Among them, electrostatic interaction and covalent binding are particularly common and widely used. In addition, integrating nanomaterials into advanced monitoring systems such as microfluidic chips and biosensors provides strong support for the innovation of nucleic acid detection technology. The purpose of this paper is to comprehensively explain the basic principles and related molecular mechanisms of the interaction between nucleic acids and nanomaterials and to demonstrate their effectiveness in practical applications through specific examples for each interaction mode. Finally, we will review the latest progress of nanomaterial application in nucleic acid analysis, aiming to provide valuable references and inspirations for future research and development in this field.