Reviewed by Danielle Ellis, B.Sc.Sep 6 2024
According to a study published in Science Advances, University of Central Florida researchers, led by UCF NanoScience Technology Center Professor Debashis Chanda, have created an integrated optical sensor that can detect dopamine straight from an unprocessed blood sample.
UCF NanoScience Technology Center Professor Debashis Chanda developed an integrated optical sensor capable of detecting dopamine directly from an unprocessed blood sample. The sensor may serve as a way to efficiently quantify dopamine and use the results to screen for neurological disorders and conditions like Parkinson’s disease or depression. Image Credit: Debashis Chanda
Dopamine, a neurotransmitter found in the brain, not only governs human emotions but also acts as a biomarker for the detection of certain cancers and neurological diseases.
The novel sensor might be used as a low-cost and effective screening tool for a variety of neurological diseases and cancers, resulting in better patient outcomes.
The US National Science Foundation funded the study.
This plasmonic biosensor is extremely sensitive to low concentrations of biomolecules, which makes them a promising platform for specialized assays and point-of-care applications in remote locations. 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 which includes protein solutions, artificial cerebrospinal fluid, and unprocessed whole blood.
Debashis Chanda, Professor, University of Central Florida
Neurotransmitters are important in controlling brain function and general well-being in people and animals. According to Chanda, a harmonic balance of neurological hormones is required for optimal bodily function. Dopamine is an important transmitter because it influences cognitive functions such as motor function as well as emotions like happiness and pleasure.
According to Chanda, dopamine level disruptions are closely associated with a variety of neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease, neurodevelopmental conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and Tourette's syndrome, and psychological disorders such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
Deviations from normal dopamine levels can also be used as a diagnostic sign for some forms of cancer. According to Chanda, measuring dopamine concentrations precisely and consistently is critical for developing pharmaceutical research and medical therapy.
How it Works
The plasmonic sensor consists of a small gold pattern that causes electrons to travel in waves. These waves, known as plasmons, grow more powerful with a specific optical setup. When a new molecule reaches the sensor's surroundings, it alters how electrons flow, influencing how light is reflected from the sensor. This alteration in reflection aids in the detection of the molecule's presence.
Unlike standard biosensors, which rely on biological components such as antibodies or enzymes, this UCF-developed gadget detects dopamine with precision using a specially engineered aptamer—a synthetic DNA strand. This method not only reduces the sensor's cost and storage requirements but also enables the gadget to detect dopamine directly from unprocessed blood without any prior preparation.
This development might be especially useful in locations with limited medical resources. It streamlines the detection procedure and opens the door to identifying other diseases using the same technology.
Researchers were able to target specific molecules by covering the sensor's active region with an aptamer designed to latch onto a certain biomarker with high precision.
The study's findings emphasize the potential of plasmonic “aptasensors” that detect utilizing aptamers to produce speedy and accurate diagnostic tools for disease monitoring, medical diagnostics, and targeted therapies, according to the researchers.
There have been numerous demonstrations of plasmonic biosensors but all of them fall short in detecting the relevant biomarker directly from unprocessed biological fluids, such as blood.
Aritra Biswas, Study Lead Author, CREOL, The College of Optics & Photonics, University of Central Florida
The new study expands on the team's previous work developing a dopamine detector by replacing cerium oxide nanoparticles with DNA-based aptamers. This improves the sensor's selectivity and expands its applicability to detect dopamine directly in different biological samples without the need for prior sample preparation.
Chanda added, “This concept can be further explored in the detection of different biomolecules directly from unprocessed blood, such as proteins, viruses, DNA. There may be great interest in developing countries where access to analytical laboratories is limited.”
The study’s co-authors are the following UCF students who worked in Chanda's lab: Sang Lee '22MS, Pablo Cencillo-Abad and Manobina Karmakar, postdoctoral fellows, Jay Patel and Francisco Hernandez Guitierrez, undergraduate students studying biomedical sciences, and Mahdi Soudi, a doctoral candidate in physics.
Journal References:
Biswas, A., et. al. (2024) Nanoplasmonic aptasensor for sensitive, selective, and real-time detection of dopamine from unprocessed whole blood. Science Advances. doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adp7460