The Worm Podcast12 Mar 2025

EPISODE 4: Magic Nanosensors Reveal Intestinal pH Oscillations in C. elegans

Did you know that digestion in C. elegans follows a rhythmic pH cycle? In this episode, we explore how magic nanosensors uncover real-time intestinal pH oscillations inside these tiny nematodes. By mapping the gut’s acidic landscape, researchers reveal how proton pumps, digestion, and metabolism work together in a synchronised chemical dance—offering new insights for biomedicine and drug discovery.

🔍 Key Topics Covered:

• How pH-sensitive nanosensors track acidity in living organisms

• The real-time pH oscillations inside the C. elegans gut

• The role of proton pumps and metabolism in digestion

• How this discovery could impact gut health and biomedical research

📖 Based on the research article:

“Mapping the Pharyngeal and Intestinal pH of Caenorhabditis elegans and Real-Time Luminal pH Oscillations Using Extended Dynamic Range pH-Sensitive Nanosensors”

Veeren M. Chauhan, Gianni Orsi, Alan Brown, David I. Pritchard, Jonathan W. Aylott. Published in ACS Nano (2013).

🔗 Read it here: https://doi.org/10.1021/nn401856u

Join us as we uncover how pH-shifting nanosensors are revolutionising our understanding of digestion and metabolism!

🎧 Subscribe to the WoRM Podcast for more deep dives into frontier science!

This podcast is generated with artificial intelligence and curated by Veeren. If you’d like your publication featured on the show, please get in touch.

📩 More info:

🔗 www.veerenchauhan.com

📧 veeren.chauhan@nottingham.ac.uk

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