New Delhi, August 28, 2024: Scientists have developed an affordable, user-friendly, portable smartphone-based fluorescence turn-on sensor system that can assist in managing Parkinson’s disease.
The sensor would help in accurately detecting the concentration of L-dopa in the body, thereby helping to determine the precise dosage required for effective control of the disease, sources in the Union Ministry of Science & Technology said.

Parkinson’s disease is marked by a continuous decrease in neuron cells, which leads to a significant reduction in dopamine (neurotransmitter) levels in our body. L-dopa is a chemical which is converted to dopamine in our body and so act as anti-Parkinson’s drugs.
It helps in compensating the deficiency of dopamine. As long as the correct amount of L-dopa is administered, the disease remains manageable.
However, due to the progressive nature of Parkinson’s, as the patient ages, more L-dopa is needed to compensate for the ongoing loss of neurons.
But too much of the L-Dopa can cause serious side effects like dyskinesia, gastritis, psychosis, paranoia, and orthostatic hypotension, while too little can lead to the return of Parkinson’s symptoms.
Considering the critical role of optimum level of L-dopa in therapy, it is essential to develop a simple, cost-effective, sensitive, and quick method for monitoring L-dopa in biological fluids.
Recently, Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology (IASST), an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology developed an affordable, user-friendly, portable smartphone-based optical sensor system utilizing fluorescence turn-on mechanism to instantly detect low levels of L-dopa in biological samples.
The sensor made by coating a silk-fibroin protein nano-layer, derived from Bombyx mori silk cocoons, onto the surface of reduced graphene oxide nanoparticles. This system forms core-shell graphene-based quantum dots with outstanding photoluminescence properties, making it an effective fluorescent turn-on sensor probe for detecting L-dopa in real samples such as blood plasma, sweat, and urine within a linear range of 5 μM to 35 μM. The corresponding detection limits were determined to be 95.14 nM, 93.81 nM, and 104.04 nM, respectively.
The researchers have designed a smartphone-based electronic device with an electric circuit connected to a 365nm LED powered by a 5V smartphone charger. The whole setup is immersed in a dark chamber to isolate it from external light. Visual color changes during the sensing process were observed by illuminating the sensor probe with the 365 nm LED and capturing images with a smartphone camera. The RGB values from the images are used to evaluate L-dopa concentration using a mobile app. This simple, cost-effective, and rapid screening tool is crucial for on-spot analyte detection in remote areas lacking advanced equipment.
By detecting whether biological samples from the patient has low levels of L-Dopa, the sensor could help adjust the required dosage for effective control of the disease.
More Stories
Applications invited for Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards 2024 and 2025
Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi has invited applications from outstanding young artists of performing arts fields for Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards 2024 and 2025 till 07 July.
First Chief Secretary of Chhattisgarh Arun Kumar passes away
First Chief Secretary of Chhattisgarh Arun Kumar passed away yesterday. A condolence meeting was organized today at the Secretariat and two minutes of silence was observed before paying rich tributes to him.
Sai Govt Rationalise 10,463 Schools in Chhattisgarh Under National Education Policy 2020
The Chhattisgarh government led by Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai today taken a major decision with the aim of improving the quality of school education and has issued an order for rationalization of a total of 10,463 schools in the state.
Rs 727.50 Crore Worth of 13.22 Lakh Standard Bags of Tendu Leaves Collected in Chhattisgarh
More than 13 lakh 22 thousand 730 standard bags of tendu leaves have been collected in Chhattisgarh so far, in lieu of which Rs 727 crore 50 lakh 17 thousand will be paid to the tendu leave pluckers.
Chief Minister Sai inaugurates Gramin Bank in Pamed in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh
Interior Pamed in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh, which was once considered the stronghold of Maoist Battalion No. 1, today banks are opening there, girls’ residential schools are being built and people are participating in good governance camps with open mind.
India’s Leading AI Data Center Soon in Raipur; ESDS to Invest Rs 600 Crore
Chhattisgarh is going to take a big step in the digital landscape of the country. Technology company ESDS Software Solution Ltd has presented a proposal of investment of more than Rs 600 crore to Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai to set up a state-of-the-art artificial intelligence based data center in Raipur.