Researchers at RGCB in Keralam develop nanopore sensors for early detection of Parkinson’s disease

Researchers at the BRIC-Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (BRIC-RGCB) here have developed a nanopore-based sensing technology that could pave the way for early detection and monitoring of biomarkers linked to neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

A research team led by Mahendran K.R., with contributions from PhD student Varsha Shaji and postdoctoral researcher Neethu Puthumadathil, designed the ‘self-assembling dual-diameter’ nanopore sensors that are capable of detecting such biomarkers with high sensitivity, the RGCB said in a statement.

The research published in Nature Nanotechnology represents a significant advance in nanoscience and biomolecular sensing, the RGCB said.

Biomarkers are indicators of diseases that can be used for early detection. Nanopores are extremely small hollow structures. Detecting biomarkers at an early stage using conventional techniques, however, remains challenging as many of these biomarkers occur at extremely low concentrations.