Progress of in situ bioimaging methods based on CRISPR/Cas9 system

In situ bioimaging is a powerful tool for directly observing the localization, expression, and interactions of nucleic acids or protein targets within cells, providing essential insights into cell function and disease mechanisms. In recent years, the CRISPR/Cas9 system, a revolutionary gene-editing tool, has been applied to develop efficient in situ imaging techniques. This paper reviews recent CRISPR/Cas9-based imaging methods utilizing Cas9 protein, engineered single-guide RNA (sgRNA), and coupled fluorescent tags, and compares their application in living and fixed cells. It focuses on the specificity, signal amplification efficiency, and multi-modal imaging capabilities of these methods, with further discussion based on current research, aiming to offer a comprehensive overview of CRISPR/Cas9-based in situ bioimaging techniques, with some valuable reference and guidance for research in related fields.