AptaMod is a nanoscale biosensor that detects biomarkers of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's, to support earlier intervention to improve prognosis.

The current existing diagnostic pathway of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is expensive, time-consuming, and often places a significant burden on the patient’s life. Furthermore, early diagnosis of this condition is severely limited, which contributes to the severity of the disease, as it is often not caught until the late-progressive stages. As a result, our team wishes to address the gap in early diagnosis by offering a point-of-care biosensor that can be easily implemented into routinely check-ups. This will place an emphasis on the patient’s quality of life and improve the opportunity for early medical intervention.
AptaMod is a point-of-care nanoscale biosensor that focuses on the detection of biomarkers found in high concentrations in the blood of patients with Alzheimer’s. The design incorporates the use of a lateral flow assay (LFA), making rapid-testing and portability possible for the early onset of this condition. The detection of these biomarkers will be possible through the use of a substrate-enzyme pair, which after binding with an aptamer, will release a change in colour as an observable product. Furthermore, the use of a DNA mechanism known as a Toehold Mediated Strand Displacement (TMSD) also allows for the reusability of the device. This allows us to enhance sensor modularity by enabling biomarker flexibility and exchange, and would also provide the opportunity to control target switching. This sensor will provide a low-cost, portable, and accessible diagnostic tool that will hopefully provide a significant impact in the scope of early diagnosis for Alzheimer’s.