Aug 2026· Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology· 0 citations· 121 references
TL;DR
This review comprehensively examines the potential applications of CRISPR in space biotechnology, focusing on enhancing astronaut health by targeting genes associated with muscle atrophy, bone loss, radiation resistance, and immune function and the use of CRISPR-engineered microorganisms to support closed-loop life-support systems.
Abstract
As space exploration advances toward long-duration missions and the potential colonization of extraterrestrial environments, innovative strategies are required to address the physiological, agricultural, and environmental challenges associated with spaceflight. Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)-Cas9 gene-editing technology has emerged as a promising platform for overcoming these challenges through precise genetic modifications in humans, plants, and microorganisms. This review comprehensively examines the potential applications of CRISPR in space biotechnology, focusing on enhancing astronaut health by targeting genes associated with muscle atrophy, bone loss, radiation resistance, and immune function. It also discusses the potential of CRISPR to engineer crops capable of thriving under space conditions, including microgravity, elevated radiation, limited resources, and constrained lighting, through improved photosynthetic efficiency, nutrient utilization, and stress tolerance. Furthermore, the review explores the use of CRISPR-engineered microorganisms to support closed-loop life-support systems by improving air purification, water recycling, and waste biodegradation. Unlike previous reviews that primarily address individual aspects of CRISPR or space biotechnology, this review integrates advances in astronaut health, space agriculture, and microbial engineering within a unified framework while critically evaluating the associated ethical, technical, regulatory, and biosafety challenges. It also identifies current knowledge gaps and future research priorities to facilitate the responsible development and implementation of CRISPR-based technologies for long-duration space missions. Collectively, these insights highlight the transformative potential of CRISPR to support sustainable human exploration and long-term habitation beyond Earth.
This article synthesizes contemporary advancements in CRISPR-mediated mammalian genome modification, detailing core mechanisms – such as guide RNA and the Cas9 endonuclease – alongside next-generation modalities, including base and prime editing.
Olga Aldoshina, Dmitriy Lazarev, E. Smirnova· Veterinariya, Zootekhniya i...· 0 citations
The engineering of microorganisms is undergoing a fundamental paradigm shift, transitioning from the construction of static cell factories to the programming of dynamically responsive living materials. However, translating molecular interventions into robust macroscopic functions requires overcoming distinct microbial-specific barriers, including delivery bottlenecks and genetic stability. In this review, we establish a unified Edit-Reprogram-Functionalize conceptual framework that systematically delineates transient genetic regulation from permanent genomic engineering. We critically examine the evolutionary trajectories of five foundational technologies: plasmid engineering, CRISPR-Cas systems, base editors, prime editors, and enzyme engineering. Rather than analyzing these toolsets in isolation, we map their convergence into an integrated engineering continuum that drives the precise synthesis of two distinct output classes: engineered living microbial materials and robust microbial metabolite-derived materials. By evaluating representative breakthroughs-from ultrasound-actuated bacterial therapeutics to ultra-tough, biosynthesized protein composites-through the strict lens of host-dependent constraints, we reveal the mechanistic principles governing successful preclinical translation. Finally, we propose an actionable roadmap centered on systemic miniaturization, closed-loop control, and multi-scale integration, providing a definitive blueprint for the next generation of precision medicine, advanced biomanufacturing, and ecological remediation.
Yangyang Du, Yunjia Shi, Dazhi Chen et al.· Small· 0 citations
CRISPR has emerged as a next-generation gene-editing tool with the potential to target the molecular pathways associated with ageing and related disorders. It functions through RNA-guided Cas nucleases, directing DNA cleavage and utilizing the native DNA repair machinery for genetic manipulations. Advances in CRISPR technology have significantly enhanced the precision and flexibility of techniques for genome editing. The enzyme Cas9's ability to cut DNA at exact site has revolutionized genome editing by enabling accurate modifications within living eukaryotic cells. This review critically examines recent developments in CRISPR-based technologies, including Cas9, Cas12, base editing, prime editing, and CRISPR-mediated gene regulation. It highlights their rising applications in ageing research, with more emphasis on neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. The review also discusses the major pharmacological and translational challenges that currently limit clinical applications, including inefficient tissue-specific delivery, off-target genome editing, immunogenicity, manufacturing complexity, and long-term safety concerns. Also, recent progress in both, viral and non-viral delivery methods are critically evaluated, including adeno-associated viruses, lentivirus vectors, lipid nanoparticles, gold nanoparticles, exosomes, electroporation, and microinjection, is thoroughly discussed to highlight their therapeutic potential and translational limitations. Current studies indicate that CRISPR-based approaches have preclinical potential for targeting important hallmarks of ageing, particularly genomic instability, telomere attrition, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Other hallmarks of ageing, such as stem cell exhaustion, epigenetic modifications, and microbiome changes, are at earlier stages of development. Overall, this review describes future strategies for developing safe, precise, and clinically translatable CRISPR-based treatments to promote healthy ageing.
Sakshi Rathore, Akash Gupta, Kamal Shah et al.· Ageing Research Reviews· 0 citations
This review summarizes CRISPR principles, highlights technical breakthroughs and crop applications that mitigate biotic and abiotic stresses, and outlines practical challenges and future directions necessary for responsible deployment in agriculture.
Muhammad Faran Tahir, Muhammad Hamzah Saleem, Sidra Aslam et al.· Turkish Journal of Agricultu...· 0 citations
The convergence of CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing and nanozyme engineering is revolutionizing synthetic biology, biotechnology, and medical science. CRISPR-Cas9, a precise and programmable tool, enables targeted genetic modifications that enhance nanozyme functionality, stability, and catalytic efficiency. Through the site-specific mutagenesis, metabolic pathway regulation, and synthetic biology strategies, researchers have significantly improved nanozyme performance for diverse applications, including environmental remediation, biomedical diagnostics, and industrial catalysis. This article explores the fundamental mechanisms of CRISPR-based genome editing, its role in nanozyme optimization, and the latest breakthroughs in enzyme engineering. It also critically examines challenges such as off-target effects, biosafety concerns, and ethical implications associated with gene-edited nanozymes. As advancements in AI-driven predictive modeling and next-generation gene-editing tools emerge, CRISPR-Cas9 is poised to unlock unprecedented possibilities in bioengineering. The integration of genetic precision with catalytic innovation marks a transformative era, redefining the frontiers of molecular biotechnology and paving the way for groundbreaking applications in medicine, industry, and sustainable technology.
Modamori I.O, Okanlawon T.S, Ebhomienlen J.O et al.· Biological and Environmental...· 0 citations
Genomic manipulation has advanced from stochastic nuclease‐mediated disruption toward programmable, deterministic precision. Early clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) strategies enabled targeted mutagenesis through double‐strand breaks; however, their therapeutic application is limited by genotoxicity, chromosomal instability, and dependence on endogenous repair pathways that are difficult to predict. In this review, we examined the transition from gene editing to genome writing, an approach that decouples genomic modification from host repair pathways to better balance efficiency, precision, and payload delivery. We also discussed the principles of precision technologies, including base and prime editors, and described emerging large‐scale writers, such as CRISPR‐associated transposases and recombinase‐based bridge RNAs, which enable the integration of multi‐kilobase synthetic modules. Beyond enzymatic mechanisms, we further considered the combined use of generative artificial intelligence, structural biology, and novel delivery architectures as potential strategies to overcome current biological limitations. Taken together, these developments point toward Generative Biology, in which computational design and high‐throughput screening transform the genome from a static substrate into a more dynamic model for complex, synthetic functional design.
