A team of scientists at the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB) has taken a bold step toward transforming the way doctors diagnose and treat cancer. Tiny “mirror-image” pores, engineered to behave like natural protein tunnels but with a synthetic twist.
The innovation comes from Dr. K.R. Mahendran and his colleagues at the Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council–RGCB (BRIC-RGCB). These man-made pores, named DpPorA, are built from mirror-image peptides flipped versions of natural proteins. In essence, they look like nature’s designs reflected in a mirror, but this simple flip gives them remarkable new powers.
Computer simulations and lab studies have shown that these mirror pores are not only structurally opposite to natural ones, but also more stable, selective, and precise. Acting like microscopic gates, they can filter and detect a wide range of molecules from the tiniest sugar rings to large proteins making them a potential tool for early disease detection and personalised diagnostics.
Dr. Mahendran explained:
“These nanopores can be tuned to let only specific molecules through. That means we could detect early warning signs of cancer or even monitor how a patient is responding to treatment.”
The team also found that mirror peptides showed an unexpected bonus: they could selectively damage cancer cells while sparing healthy ones, pointing toward safer future therapies.
RGCB Director Prof. Chandrabhas Narayana called the discovery a “game-changer,” noting its broader potential. Beyond cancer, he said, mirror nanopores could be applied in wound healing, muscle repair, immune support, and even the treatment of neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
The project was a collaborative effort with CSIR-NIIST, Thiruvananthapuram; Constructor University, Germany; and the Centre for Human Genetics, Bengaluru, supported by funding from India’s leading science bodies, including the DBT, DST, ICMR, and CSIR.
Published in Nature Communications, the study highlights how the fusion of chemistry, nanotechnology, and cancer biology can open up a new frontier in medicine.
For now, these “mirror-image” nanopores remain in the lab but one day, they could help doctors spot diseases earlier, treat them more safely, and personalise healthcare in ways that once seemed impossible.
