Scientists at the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology in Bengaluru, have developed a smartphone-enabled platform capable of detecting amyloid-beta (Aβ), a key biomarker associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

The platform, named ADxFluo, is built around a fluorescence-responsive molecule called TZ-48. According to the researchers, when TZ-48 interacts with Aβ, it undergoes distinct changes in fluorescence intensity and lifetime — changes that can be captured and quantified directly through a smartphone application, without the need for expensive laboratory equipment.

How the Probe Works

TZ-48 is described as a smart fluorescence lifetime-responsive probe that enables highly selective and sensitive detection of Aβ fibrils through a “turn-on” fluorescence response and distinct lifetime signatures. In laboratory studies, the probe demonstrated strong blood-brain-barrier permeability and reliably labelled Aβ plaques in the brains of transgenic Alzheimer’s disease mouse models. It was also found to be compatible with confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM), allowing researchers to map Aβ burden quantitatively across different disease stages.

Beyond brain tissue imaging, TZ-48 was also able to sensitively detect Aβ in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood serum, accurately distinguishing Alzheimer’s-affected mice from healthy ones.

From Lab Research to a Smartphone-Based Screening Tool

To help translate this research into a more accessible clinical tool, the JNCASR team developed ADxFluo — a smartphone-integrated platform that uses the fluorescence response of TZ-48 to rapidly and objectively quantify Aβ levels in blood serum. By combining dual-mode brain imaging, biofluid-based detection, and smartphone-based quantification, the researchers say the system lays the foundation for next-generation, accessible diagnostics for Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative conditions.

Scientists noted that this approach shows potential applications in the screening and staging of Alzheimer’s disease, offering a rapid and cost-effective alternative to traditional diagnostic tests such as PET scans or invasive CSF sampling.

The Research Team and Publication

The study was carried out by researchers Krithi K. Bhagavath, Madhu Ramesh, Yogendra Kumar, Sabyasachi Mandal, Hiriyakkanavar Ila and Thimmaiah Govindaraju, and has been published in the journal ACS Chemical Neuroscience.

Why Amyloid-Beta Matters in Alzheimer’s Diagnosis

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder marked by memory loss, cognitive decline and behavioural impairment, caused by the misfolding and aggregation of Aβ into plaques that trigger neurotoxic cascades leading to synaptic dysfunction. Aβ is considered an early, disease-specific biomarker under the National Institute on Aging-Alzheimer’s Association (NIA-AA) framework, making it a reliable indicator for diagnosis.