Levitation in a test tube
Levitating proteins help diagnose diseases
Researchers have developed a new method for determining the density of proteins in the blood – the method of magnetic levitation. It can significantly increase the speed of detection and diagnosis of diseases, – according to a press release from the University of Michigan ‘Levitating’ proteins could help diagnose opioid abuse, other diseases.
Article by Ashkarran et al. Magnetically Levitated Plasma Proteins is published in the journal Analytical Chemistry – VM.
Magnetic levitation has previously been used to separate particles of various types in solutions and arrange them into groups based on relative density rather than weight. Now two new studies conducted by assistant Professor Morteza Mahmoudi from Precision Health and researcher Ali Akbar Ashkarran show how this method can be applied to human blood plasma – the liquid component of blood. Plasma contains many types of proteins that perform many functions in the body.
"When we put something in a liquid, it precipitates by weight," Moody said. – But another force – magnetic – can reduce weight and levitate proteins. This allows us to determine the density of proteins in solution much more accurately."
It is important to accurately measure the density of proteins in the body, because proteins play an important role both in health and in painful conditions. For example, lipoproteins transport fats into cells, antibody proteins play a role in immunity, and coagulation proteins help blood clot. Modern methods of measuring the density of proteins in a liquid are unreliable and often violate the fundamental properties of proteins.
In their study, the team applied the technique of magnetic levitation in a small test tube containing magnetic nanoparticles, into which plasma proteins were injected. Over a three-hour period, the team observed the appearance of a number of individual bands representing different forms of proteins.
"The squirrels took on certain shapes when they were lifted," Moody said. – It looks like "emoticons" from layers."
By measuring the density of the bands, the team came to two noteworthy results. The first was that there was no correlation between protein density and its molecular weight, which came as a surprise because it goes against traditional thinking. Second, the average protein density was much lower than previous studies had suggested.
The mechanism by which proteins are separated into layers by density is not entirely clear, but this may be due to structural differences and/or protein-protein interactions.
"The data obtained is crucial because protein density is used to determine the physical properties of proteins, including their three–dimensional structures," Mahmoudi said. "In addition, knowing the exact density of proteins allows us to create safer and more effective therapeutic agents, such as nanopreparations."
Thus, the magnetic levitation method is not just a fun research tool – it has exciting clinical prospects. The specific "signature" of individual plasma proteins can tell the doctor a lot about the patient's health status.
Moody and Ashkarran clinically tested the magnetic levitation method by comparing the plasma of healthy people with the plasma of people who abuse opioids. From the analysis of the images, they found clear and reliable differences in the spectrum of plasma proteins of healthy people and those who abuse opioids. For example, the latter had higher levels of certain variants of hemoglobin.
This method is particularly promising for diagnosis – a potentially lengthy process that can delay treatment. Moody said he and his team are currently working on using magnetic levitation to detect other types of chronic diseases, such as multiple sclerosis and cancer, where an accurate diagnosis is crucial and in many cases saves lives.
"There are four subtypes of multiple sclerosis, but the diagnosis is currently based on the patient's behavior, symptoms, and response to treatment," Moody said. – There is no biomarker or MRI test to diagnose various subtypes in the early stages. The correct diagnosis of the type of multiple sclerosis is crucial because it determines which type of treatment is appropriate. We hope that this method of magnetic levitation will give clinicians a technique for determining subtypes."
The team is also exploring whether the method can be used to diagnose cancer, where early detection can affect survival.
"If we can use the technique to detect cancer at an early stage, many more cancers can be successfully treated," Moody said.
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