Cecília Roque and the electronic nose that can detect bladder cancer and Parkinson’s in 15 minutes: “we use sensors made of gelatin”
For a biological nose, 15 minutes may seem like a lot, but for an electronic nose it is just a short wait for a potential diagnosis of diseases such as bladder cancer or Parkinson’s disease. “Not only are we able to have samples that are collected in a non-invasive way, we also provide a quick response,†responds Cecília Roque, director of the Applied Biomolecular Sciences Unit (UCIBIO), pointing to waiting times of about “15 minutes†.
The new electronic nose was developed based on sensors that change characteristics when they are in contact with the compounds to be studied. Biological noses can have a range of meters, but UCIBIO’s electronic nose can only produce results when the sample is placed a few centimeters from the sensor.
Cecília Roque, leader of UCIBIO laboratories, during the Futuro do Futuro interview
Matilde Fieschi
The electronic nose has been developed with the purpose of complementing current diagnostic exams. In addition to its speed, this nose may have the advantage of being portable or, at least, transportable. Cecília Roque explains that her team has been “working with a machine that takes up more or less the space of a laptop†, but she also believes that the research project will allow ¡ that the prototype can be “even more miniaturized†in the near future.
The nose has been tested with samples of human excreta, which bring gases or volatile compounds into contact with sensors made of gelatin that are found inside small chambers that make up the prototype. Once contact is established with the organic compounds in the samples, the sensor changes color and conductivity, if it has detected the molecules for which it was created.
Jose Fernandes
If it does not change color, this only confirms that none of the compounds sought during the test were detected. “TWe worked a lot with urine,” says Cecília Roque. “Urine can contain different markers and compositions, depending on whether the person is sick or healthy,†she adds.
UCIBIO researchers focused on detecting bladder cancer, taking as a starting point the fact that it involves invasive, painful and repetitive diagnoses. On the other hand, the development of a new method for detecting Parkinson’s disease had as its starting point a curious case of a lady who “was able to identify that there was a change in the pattern of smells emanated by your husband.
Gonçalo Santos Lopes, CEO of VISA Portugal
Jose Fernandes
The curious case made it possible to confirm that the lady in question could not only be part of the minority group of “super smellers†, who have a very keen sense of smell, but also gave the idea to start tests with sebum samples from the skin for potential parkinson diagnoses. “The Our enthusiasm comes from the fact that diagnosing Parkinson’s disease is not easy. It is a clinical diagnosis that often takes a long time,” says Cecília Roque.
Afonso Mendonça Reis on the podcast To Be or Not To Be
Nuno Fox
It was to illustrate the theme of electronic devices that detect different compounds that Cecília Roque featured on the cover of the scientific magazine Trends in Biotechnology and also a sound easily recognizable as coming from the sea. The choice of sound served as a motto to explain a research project related to the camouflage of octopuses, squids and cuttlefish, which is based on protein structures. “We work a lot with proteins,†emphasizes Cecília Roque. “And from there came our curiosity to try to actually study these proteins that are involved in this camouflage process†.
Cover of Trends in Biotechnology magazine about electronic noses, which Cecília Roque brought in response to one of the challenges of the Future of the Future
Trends in Biotechnology
For now, the study of cephalopod camouflage is merely scientific and does not have a defined practical objective. On the other hand, the development of the electronic nose, even without reaching the final version, has already started to attract attention. “TThere was interest in the food aspect. We are also working with a company that has accompanied us in researching the best applications that we can give to our electronic nose,” concludes Cecília Roque.
Tiago Pereira Santos
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