posted on 2022-01-05, 10:23authored byMassimo Fioranelli, Alireza Sepehri, Maria Grazia Roccia, Aracena Jahaira Carolina, Iva Binic, Masa Golubovic, Michael Tirant, Nguyen Van Thuong, Julia Sigova, Torello Lotti, Aroonkumar Beesham
Recently, it has been shown that DNA could emit some waves which carry main
information about its evolution. Using this idea, we design a new method to image
the behavior of skin cells, especially melanocytes, and diagnose their damage. In this
method, we make use of a circuit which is formed from DNAs within the damaged
melanocytes, a graphene sheet, DNAs within the healthy cells, and a scope. To
amplify exchanged waves between hexagonal and pentagonal manifolds of DNAs,
we induce some defects in the graphene sheets and replace some hexagonal mole?cules by pentagonal ones to build a structure similar to the structure of DNAs. We
show that unprotected exposure to UVA and UVB damages the DNA in melanocyte
cells, producing genetic defects, or mutations, that can lead to exchanged waves
between cells and the emergence of a current in our circuit. By analyzing the evolu?tion of this current, we can estimate the rate of destruction in melanocytes, and pre?dict the emergence of cancer.
Funding
National Research Foundation, Grant/Award Number: 118511; Guglielmo Marconi University