Interview/ Shalini Menon, associate editor, Institute of Physics Publishing, the UK, and inventor of Dopameter
Actor, TV host, dancer, and academic, Shalini Menon is a true all-rounder. The young chemist from Kerala has earned a patent for a groundbreaking device, the Dopameter, which detects dopamine levels in the body. The device could significantly impact the treatment of neurological disorders like Parkinson’s and psychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia.
In an interview, Menon said that although dopamine is crucial in neurological disorders, it is not routinely monitored in clinical settings. “Traditional methods like high-performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry are costly, time-consuming, and require complex lab setups,” she said. “Consequently, doctors often rely on indirect tests and symptom observation, leading to delayed diagnoses.” This highlights the importance of the invention by Menon and her team, developed at the Cochin University of Science and Technology under the supervision of Professor K. Girish Kumar.
After her patent was granted, some media outlets mistakenly reported her device as one that measures happiness, confusing it with dopamine’s reputation as the feel-good hormone. Menon, currently associate editor, the Institute of Physics Publishing in the UK, clarifies that her device is intended only for clinical use by trained medical practitioners. Excerpts:
Q/ Could you explain how dopamine functions?
A/ Dopamine is a feel-good hormone, which is produced by the brain. And it is also a neurotransmitter―it acts as a mediator between the nerve cells and your brain. It sends messages to the nerve cells from the brain. It is being synthesised by an amino acid called tyrosine. Simple day-to-day activities can cause the release of dopamine in your brain. And that is a rewarding feeling. But, when dopamine levels become abnormal in your brain it becomes dangerous and could cause neurological disorders. The best example is Parkinson's disease, which is caused by low levels of dopamine, and schizophrenia, which is caused by excessive levels of dopamine.
Q/ What is the Dopameter?
A/ We developed a device specifically to detect dopamine levels among other neurotransmitters and compounds in the brain. After we received the patent, several media outlets mistakenly reported that we had created a sensor to measure happiness. That is not the case. I received numerous inquiries about whether this device could measure happiness, but that is impossible. The device cannot be purchased by the general public; it is intended for use only by authorised medical practitioners in hospitals and clinics.
To accurately measure dopamine, we need samples of cerebrospinal fluid, blood plasma, or, in extreme cases, urine or saliva. If we marketed it as a happiness-measuring device, it could lead to misuse, with people seeking drugs to artificially boost their happiness, which is not advisable.
Instead, this device is meant for diagnosing neurological disorders, and addiction, and potentially monitoring psychological conditions. It should be used by health care professionals for treatment and monitoring.
Q/ Could you please explain how it functions?
A/ I would say it is somewhat similar to a glucometer. It consists of a small unit where you insert disposable strips, called electrodes. I have developed a chemical component at the centre of the strip that catalyses the oxidation of dopamine.
To use the device, you add microlitres of a biological sample―such as blood, urine, saliva or cerebrospinal fluid―on to the strip. Then, a specific electrochemical potential is applied, which oxidises the dopamine in the sample. This conversion generates a current and we measure that current. The amount of current produced is directly proportional to the concentration of dopamine in the sample.
Q/ Is this a first-of-its-kind device?
A/ Several dopamine sensors have been documented in research papers, but to my knowledge, I have not seen any device currently in use for detecting dopamine levels.
Q/ Is there any personal reason for creating this device?
A/ My PhD work focused on developing chemical and biosensors, including several sensors for neurotransmitters and clinically important compounds like paracetamol. Upon completing my PhD, I realised that despite producing thousands of sensors, they were either published in academic papers or included in my thesis, with no practical application for the general public. I felt it was time to bring my research to the public to make it useful for society.
Having seen my father effectively use a glucometer to monitor his glucose levels, I recognised how impactful such devices could be. I have encountered many patients with Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, and addiction who would benefit from effective monitoring and treatment. This realisation made me see the importance of applying our research meaningfully. When I joined my postdoc in the same lab, I decided to develop a device based on my work with neurotransmitters.
At that time, I also started my own company, ChemSensor, as a startup at the university. Our first project focused on developing the Dopameter device. Unfortunately, I could not advance the project further after moving to the UK, but my team continues to work on it.
Developing a device is just the first step; the next involves conducting clinical trials and obtaining medical approvals before it can enter the market. We have reached the stage of creating a functional prototype.