Summary: Researchers have created a book optical sensor that can detect dopamine straight from raw blood samples. This device, using a synthetic DNA piece called an aptamer, identifies serotonin with great efficiency, making it a possible resource for identifying cancers and neurological problems.
The gadget is low-cost and does not involve test preparation, making it particularly useful in areas with limited health resources. The sensor’s ability to detect serotonin may help improve diagnostic tools and solutions for problems like Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and specific tumors.
Important Information:
- Using an aptamer, the detector detects dopaminergic from raw body.
- It may aid in the detection of cancers and neurological problems.
- The device offers a low-cost, effective solution for rural places with limited resources.
Origin: University of Central Florida
Dopamine, a hormone in our hippocampus, regulates our feelings and is a marker for the identification of some cancers and other neurological problems.
University of Central Florida scientists, led by UCF , NanoScience Technology Center , Professor Debashis Chanda, have developed an integrated optical device capable of detecting serotonin immediately from an raw blood test.
This detector may be a low-cost and effective screening tool for a variety of cancers and neurological conditions, finally improving patient outcomes.
The study was funded by the U. S. National Science Foundation and was published in , Science Improvements.
” This plasmonic biosensor is extremely vulnerable to lower concentrations of molecules, which make them promising platform for specialized studies, point of care programs in remote spots”, says Chanda, the study’s principal investigator who also has sessions in UCF’s Department of Physics and CREOL, the College of Optics and Photonics.
” In this work, we demonstrated an all-optical, surface-functionalized plasmonic biosensing platform for the detection of low concentrations of neurotransmitter dopamine directly from diverse biological samples, including protein solutions, artificial cerebrospinal fluid, and unprocessed whole blood,” said the author.
Neurotransmitters are essential for optimal bodily function and are essential for maintaining a harmonious balance of neurological hormones in both humans and animals, according to Chanda. Dopamine serves as a crucial transmitter because it has a significant impact on cognitive processes like motor function or feelings like joy or pleasure.  ,
Disruptions in dopamine levels are closely linked with various neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease, neurodevelopmental conditions like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and Tourette’s Syndrome, and psychological disorders such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, Chanda says.
A deviation from normal dopamine levels can also be a significant diagnostic marker for some cancer types. According to Chanda, the most crucial factor in the advancement of pharmaceutical research and medical therapies is the precise and reliable measurement of dopamine concentrations.
How It Works
A tiny gold pattern that causes electrons to move together in waves makes up the plasmonic sensor. These waves, called plasmons, become stronger with a special optical setup.
When a new molecule enters the sensor’s environment, it changes how the electrons move, which affects how light is reflected from the sensor. This reflection change enables the molecule to be detected.
This UCF-developed biosensor uses a specially created synthetic DNA strand, an aptamer, to precisely detect dopamine, in contrast to traditional biosensors that rely on biological components like antibodies or enzymes. This method makes the sensor more affordable and convenient to store, as well as enabling the device to detect dopamine directly from raw blood without any preparation.
This development may be of particular benefit to areas with limited medical resources because it speeds up the diagnosis process and opens the door to the same-technology diagnosis for other conditions.
Researchers were able to accurately target specific molecules by coating an aptamer with a particular biomarker’s active area to achieve this goal.
The study’s results highlight the potential of plasmonic “aptasensors” using aptamers to sense for developing rapid and accurate diagnostic tools for disease monitoring, medical diagnostics, and targeted therapies, the researchers say.
The lead author of the paper, Aritra Biswas ‘ 12MS 24PhD, claims that there have been numerous demonstrations of plasmonic biosensors, but none of them have been successful in detecting the relevant biomarker directly from unprocessed biological fluids, such as blood.
The new study expands the team’s work on creating a dopamine detector by replacing cerium oxide nanoparticles with DNA-based aptamers, improving the sensor’s selectivity, and expanding its applicability without needing to prepare a previous sample.
” This concept can be further explored in the detection of different biomolecules directly from unprocessed blood, such as proteins, viruses, DNA”, says Chanda. ” There may be a lot of interest in developing nations where there are few opportunities for analytical laboratories.”
The research was performed by students in Chanda’s lab at UCF and are co-authors of the study:  , Sang Lee , ’22MS, postdoctoral fellows Pablo Cencillo-Abad and Manobina Karmakar, biomedical sciences undergraduate students Jay Patel and Francisco Hernandez Guitierrez and physics doctoral student Mahdi Soudi.
About this news from neurotech and dopamine research
Author: Robert Wells
Source: University of Central Florida
Contact: Robert Wells – University of Central Florida
Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience News
Original Research: Open access.
Debashis Chanda and colleagues ‘” Nanoplasmonic Aptasensor for Sensitive, Selective, and Real-Time Detection of Dopamine from Unprocessed Whole Blood” is a novel, selective, and real-time aptasensor. Science Advances
Abstract
Dopamine from unprocessed whole blood can be detected by a nanoplasmonic aptasensor for sensitive, selective, and real-time detection
Neurotransmitters are crucial for the proper functioning of neural systems, with dopamine playing a pivotal role in cognition, emotions, and motor control.
Dysregulated dopamine levels are linked to a variety of disorders, which emphasizes the need for precise diagnosis in diagnostics and research. Single-stranded DNA ( ssDNA ) aptamers are promising bioreceptors for dopamine detection due to their selectivity, improved stability, and synthesis feasibility.
However, discrepancies in dopamine specificity have presented challenges. Here, we surface-functionalized a nano-plasmonic biosensing platform with a dopamine-specific ssDNA aptamer for selective detection.
The biosensor, featuring narrowband hybrid plasmonic resonances, achieves high specificity through functionalization with aptamers and passivation processes.
A wide range of concentrations, including in various biological samples like protein solutions, cerebrospinal fluid, and whole blood, are demonstrated for dopamine detection.
These results highlight the potential of plasmonic “aptasensors” for developing rapid and accurate diagnostic tools for disease monitoring, medical diagnostics, and targeted therapies.
