Research Projects

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the production and deposition of amyloid-? protein. Early detection of the disease's progression is crucial for effective treatment. Aβ42 is a biomarker for assessing the pathological process of AD. However, current detection methods are time-consuming and expensive. To address this, a project aims to develop a rapid, hand-held, or portable fluorescence-based DNA-RNA hybrid photosensor for specific and sensitive detection of Aβ42 in AD patient blood samples. The project aims to prepare and characterize Aβ42-specific DNA-RNA hybrid aptamers, prepare Aβ42 peptides for spiking studies, synthesize fluorescent CdTe QDs, capture and detect Aβ42, generate in vivo AD models, detect Aβ42 using SenseAlzheimer devices, and conduct in vivo AD model generation. The project will also involve publication, patent search, and technology transfer issues. The project will involve selecting and procuring Aβ42-specific DNA-RNA hybrid aptamers, preparing CdTe QDs, conducting initial spiking studies, and testing human samples. The Aβ42 specific DNA-RNA hybrid aptamer bound fluorescent QDs based photosensor detection tool aims to be a swift and sensitive detection biosensor for Aβ42 in blood samples of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. The fluorescent QDs will tie with specific DNA-RNA hybrid aptamers of Aβ42 and show surprising detection speed. QDs can be combined with other biomarkers for different patient detection issues. The designed biosensor would be cost-effective, reliable, and sensitive, making it suitable for use in doctor's offices, hospitals, and even patients as over-the-counter medications. The project aims to incorporate aspects of nucleic acid biology, molecular biophysics, structural biology, and nanobiotechnology into graduate and undergraduate teaching, enriching classes in nucleic acid biology, function, molecular biophysics, structural biology, and nanobiotechnology. The proposed hypothesis is based on the efficiency of CdTe-MPA QDs bound DNA-RNA hybrid aptamer for Aβ42 detection, offering immense promise for effective and patient-compliant detection without special expertise. The Arduino Uno microcontroller will be used for qualitative Yes/No detection of Aβ42. This study aims to develop an in-vitro DNA-RNA hybrid aptamer-based photosensor for the detection and evaluation of Aβ42 in human volunteers. The goal is to enhance target-specific detection and improve robustness towards Aβ42 in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. The objectives include understanding the required quantity of Aβ42-specific DNA-RNA hybrid aptamer, its ability to detect the target analyte, its stability during storage and working, its safety, and its commercialization prospects. The proposed method offers advantages such as rapid, portable, and easy handling, making it a critical solution for early detection of Aβ42.