Scientists at Moscow Polytechnic University are working on biosensitive nanomaterials to measure neurotransmitter levels in a patient's body. Based on these, a compact glucometer-type device will be created, the university's press service reported.
We plan to obtain materials that will be sensitive to dopamine, serotonin, and other neurotransmitters.
According to him, the device will be able to diagnose various pathologies, including Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases.
Traditional methods for measuring neurotransmitter levels require complex equipment. In addition, it takes time to get a result. The Moscow Polytechnic method is a quick way to learn about abnormalities in a patient's nerve cells.
The development is based on a film of reduced graphene oxide with aptamers (nucleic acid molecules) attached to its surface. They recognize target molecules with high accuracy. When an aptamer binds to a neurotransmitter, the graphene oxide film changes, and this is recorded as a sensor signal.