Rolling Circle Replication for Biosensing, Bioimaging, and Biomedicine

Rolling circle replication (RCR), including rolling circle amplification (RCA) and rolling circle transcription (RCT), is an isothermal enzymatic reaction. Because of its high amplification efficiency, RCR is a powerful biosensing tool for detecting biomolecules. In recent years, RCR has also been extended to the field of bioimaging to better understand biological pathways. Furthermore, RCR provides a simple technique to design and generate DNA/RNA structures with unique advantages in delivering drugs and enhanced targeting ability. In this review, we introduce the fundamentals of RCR and describe the most recent advances in RCR-based detection methods and delivery vehicles for biosensing, bioimaging, and biomedicine. Finally, some challenges and further opportunities of RCR-based biotechnology are discussed. Rolling circle replication (RCR) is an isothermal nucleic acid amplification approach that holds great potential in biotechnology.RCR can serve as a powerful biosensing platform for the detection of various biomolecules in bioanalysis and diagnosis.In bioimaging, RCR can provide a unique perspective in comprehensive understanding of biological processes and effective diagnosis of diseases.Programmable, biodegradable RCR-based assemblies have been used as versatile advanced drug carriers for targeted theranostics.