Scientists at the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Bengaluru, have developed a smartphone-enabled platform to detect amyloid-β (Aβ), a key biomarker of Alzheimer’s disease. The technology could make early screening faster, more affordable and accessible.
How the Technology Works
The platform, called ADxFluor, uses a fluorescence-responsive molecule called TZ-48. When TZ-48 interacts with Aβ, it produces changes in fluorescence. A smartphone application then captures and measures these changes to quantify Aβ levels in blood serum.
Moreover, laboratory studies showed that TZ-48 could detect Aβ in blood serum and cerebrospinal fluid and distinguish Alzheimer’s-affected mice from healthy ones. The probe also demonstrated the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier and label Aβ plaques in animal models.
Potential for Accessible Diagnosis
As per The Hindu, the smartphone-based system could help make Alzheimer’s detection more accessible by reducing dependence on expensive and specialised diagnostic infrastructure. The researchers believe the technology could support screening and disease staging at the point of care.
The study, published in ACS Chemical Neuroscience, highlights the potential of combining molecular sensing with smartphones to develop portable diagnostic tools for Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders.