Project 1 – Bionanopore Analyser
nanodiag BW aims to make a decisive contribution to the medical diagnostics and prognostics of the near future. Project P1 – Bionanopore Analyser – is developing an innovative platform for the analysis of epigenetic modifications of proteins.
For this purpose, the cluster combines basic research in biophysics, electrophysiology, epigenetics, structural biology, bioinformatics, and artificial intelligence (AI) with innovative microelectronics, microfluidics, and bioanalytical sample preparation. The focus is particularly on the analysis of protein modifications, which is crucial for epigenetic cancer therapy.
The basis for this is single-molecule analysis using bionanopores. We have already demonstrated the ability to distinguish epigenetic post-translational protein modifications using biological nanopores. The advantages over currently available analytical methods, such as mass spectrometry, are clear: the equipment and informational requirements are lower. Positional isomers—chemical compounds that share the same molecular formula but have a different structure—can be precisely distinguished. The specificity, which simply means the reliability of the test results, is also significantly better compared to antibody-based methods. Most importantly, this technology promises simple and low-threshold application possibilities even without specialised personnel, directly at the point of care.
The bionanopore technology is based on the measurement of tiny ionic currents (10-12 A) through individual protein pores in electrically insulating membranes. When biomolecules—such as DNA or peptides—enter the pore, they partially block this current. The fluctuations in the current flow that can be measured provide information about the type, sequence, or modification of these biomolecules. So far, this technology has only been commercially implemented for the detection and sequencing of DNA and RNA (Oxford Nanopore). The characterisation of proteins up to direct sequencing, which is the goal of this subproject, represents the next major challenge for the application of this technology.
