A Surface Imprinted Polymer EIS Sensor for Detecting Alpha-Synuclein, a Parkinson's Disease Biomarker

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Neurodegenerative Disease Diagnostics
• Biosensor Technology

Background:

• Parkinson's Disease (PD) diagnosis is challenging due to invasive methods, hindering early detection and intervention.
• Current diagnostic approaches limit the ability to screen for early-stage PD, impacting patient quality of life.
• Alpha-Synuclein (αSyn) is a key biomarker for PD, present in bodily fluids like saliva during early disease stages.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a non-invasive, low-cost biosensor for early detection of Parkinson's Disease.
• To quantify alpha-Synuclein (αSyn) monomers in saliva as a PD biomarker.
• To establish a sensitive and repeatable method for continuous monitoring of PD progression.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a surface imprinted polymer (SIP) biosensor using polycaprolactone (PCL) melt stamping on interdigitated electrodes.
• Utilizing electroimpedance spectroscopy (EIS) for detecting αSyn and its aggregates.
• Testing sensor specificity and sensitivity with αSyn dilutions in various matrices, including regeneration for reuse.

Main Results:

• The SIP-EIS biosensor demonstrated high specificity for monomeric αSyn.
• Achieved a low limit of detection of 5 pg/L and a linear detection range of 5 pg/L–5 µg/L.
• Sensor regeneration and reuse confirmed its potential for continuous monitoring of PD biomarkers.

Conclusions:

• The developed SIP-EIS biosensor is a promising, non-invasive tool for early Parkinson's Disease detection and monitoring.
• The sensor's sensitivity and low cost make it suitable for widespread screening and patient management.
• Quantification of αSyn monomers in saliva offers a new avenue for understanding and tracking PD progression.