Scientists in Thiruvananthapuram, India, have invented tiny “mirror-image” nanopores that could spot early signs of cancer and other diseases. These microscopic channels, made from special flipped versions of natural proteins, work like precise gates to detect harmful molecules in the body.
The team at the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB) and its BRIC facility led by Dr. K.R. Mahendran created these synthetic structures, called DpPorA. They used peptides that mimic proteins but in a mirror-reversed form. Computer simulations showed these nanopores stand opposite to natural ones, making them tougher and better at picking out specific targets.
Dr. Mahendran’s group published their findings in the journal Nature Communications. “These nanopores act as highly selective gates,” Dr. Mahendran said. “We can adjust them to allow certain molecules through while blocking others. This lets us spot everything from small sugar molecules to large proteins, paving the way for early cancer detection and personalized diagnostics.”
In lab tests, the mirror-image molecules targeted cancer cells and damaged them without hurting healthy ones. This breakthrough hints at new, safer cancer therapies using nanotechnology in medicine.
RGCB Director Prof. Chandrabhas Narayana called the discovery a game-changer. “It holds huge promise beyond cancer,” he said. “We could use it for wound healing, muscle repair, boosting the immune system, and even treating neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.”
The project brought together experts from CSIR-NIIST in Thiruvananthapuram, Constructor University in Germany, and the Centre for Human Genetics in Bengaluru. Funding came from key Indian agencies, including the Department of Biotechnology, Department of Science and Technology, Indian Council of Medical Research, and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.
By blending chemistry, nanotechnology, and cancer biology, this research offers a fresh tool for medical diagnostics. These innovative nanopores could one day help doctors catch diseases early, treat them precisely, and improve lives worldwide.
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