Highly sensitive and specific detection of human papillomavirus type 16 using CRISPR/Cas12a assay coupled with an enhanced single nanoparticle dark-field microscopy imaging technique.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a prevalent sexually transmitted pathogen associated with cervical cancer. Detecting high-risk HPV (hr-HPV) infections is crucial for cervical cancer prevention, particularly in resource-limited settings. Here, we present a highly sensitive and specific sensor for HPV-16 detection based on CRISPR/Cas12a coupled with enhanced single nanoparticle dark-field microscopy (DFM) imaging techniques.