3D-printed biosensor may aid in the early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease
Planeta COPPE / Chemical Engineering / Health Engineering / News
Date: 13/03/2026
[DISPLAY_ULTIMATE_SOCIAL_ICONS]

Coppe/UFRJ researchers, in partnership with the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ), have developed an innovative electrochemical biosensor capable of detecting neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, at an early stage. Coppe is producing technology for both the diagnosis and treatment of these diseases.
Produced using 3D printing, the device identifies biomarkers associated with these diseases, opening up new possibilities for early diagnosis and applications in the biomedical field.
Among the main advantages of the technology are its low cost and speed of manufacture. The biosensor can be printed in just three minutes, with an estimated cost of about 13 cents per unit, which expands the potential for large-scale use.
The device is produced from filaments developed with the aid of computational tools that optimize its digital modeling and manufacturing. The electrodes, printed in a pendulum shape, are composed of graphite (a conductive material), biopolymer polylactic acid and castor oil, which acts as a plasticizer.

In electrochemical tests, researchers analyzed biomarkers related to both diseases. Alterations in dopamine levels may indicate the presence of Parkinson’s Disease, while the clusterin protein is associated with the progression of Alzheimer’s Disease. The analyses were carried out on both synthetic samples and commercial human serum.
According to the researchers, technologies of this type can help overcome one of the main challenges of these diseases: identifying biological alterations before the appearance of more evident symptoms, which can expand the possibilities of clinical monitoring and early intervention.
The biosensor is still under development, but the results indicate a promising path to making diagnostic tests more accessible, faster and more portable, especially compared to more complex laboratory methodsThe study was developed during Guilherme Sales da Rocha’s doctoral studies in Coppe’s Chemical Engineering Program, in the Interfacial Phenomena Engineering Laboratory (Labefit). The work involved collaboration with researchers from UFRRJ’s Functional Nanostructured Materials for Biotechnological Applications Group. Guilherme is a recipient of Faperj‘s Nota 10 Doctorate program scholarship, supervised by Professor Helen Ferraz, coordinator of Labefit, and co-supervised by Professor João Victor Nicolin, from UFRRJ.
