NIST Unveils Rapid Nanopore Assay for Measuring Radiation-Induced DNA Damage

USA: NIST Unveils Rapid Nanopore Assay for Measuring Radiation-Induced DNA Damage

A team of scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology announced on August 21, 2025 a nanopore‑based method that can quantify radiation damage to DNA within minutes, a capability that could accelerate cancer radiotherapy decisions and improve triage during radiological emergencies.

How the Nanopore Assay Operates

The technique threads fragmented DNA through a tiny aperture—known as a nanopore—while an electric current flows across the pore. As each molecule passes, it momentarily disrupts the current, allowing the system to count fragments and measure their lengths. By correlating fragment size distributions with radiation exposure, researchers can calculate the effective dose absorbed by the DNA sample.

Limitations of Current Biodosimetry

Conventional approaches rely on blood samples that are either counted for dead cells—a process that takes at least two days—or cultured to reveal chromosomal abnormalities, which requires a minimum of three days. Moreover, these methods cannot reliably assess doses above roughly 5 gray (Gy), a threshold that may be exceeded in severe radiological incidents.

Speed and Accuracy Advantages

The new assay demonstrates reliable performance for doses between 2 Gy and 10 Gy, a clinically critical range. Results are generated in minutes rather than days, and the measurement precision exceeds that of existing laboratory techniques, according to the study published in Analytical Chemistry.

Potential Impact on Oncology

“Too little radiation can fail to destroy cancer cells, while too much can harm healthy tissue,” explained NIST physical scientist Joseph W.F. Robertson. Real‑time dose monitoring could enable oncologists to fine‑tune radiation delivery, improving tumor control while minimizing collateral damage.

Emergency Response Benefits

In scenarios such as nuclear accidents or radiation poisoning, rapid dose assessment is essential for prioritizing medical care. Robertson noted that first responders equipped with a portable version of the technology could obtain actionable exposure data in minutes, allowing them to focus resources on the most severely affected individuals.

Path Toward Portable Deployment

NIST is collaborating with industry partners to shrink the laboratory setup into a handheld device comparable in size to a smartphone. The goal is to produce an affordable, field‑ready instrument that can be deployed in hospitals, emergency sites, and other settings where immediate radiation assessment is needed.

Outlook

By delivering fast, accurate measurements of DNA damage, the nanopore assay represents a significant step toward more responsive cancer treatment and more effective radiological emergency management, aligning with NIST’s broader mission to protect public health through scientific innovation.

This report is based on information from NIST, licensed under Public Domain (U.S. Government Work). Source: Official U.S. Government release.