New Delhi, April 23
A team of interdisciplinary researchers at the Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology (IASST) in Guwahati, an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), has developed an optical sensing platform for cholesterol detection, based on silk fibre functionalised using phosphorene quantum dots, it was announced on Wednesday.
A point-of-care (POC) device has been developed in the laboratory scale for detecting cholesterol using this, according to a Ministry of Science & Technology statement.
It can sense cholesterol in trace amounts, even below the preferred range. It can be an efficient tool for routine monitoring of cholesterol levels in the human body.
The platform developed for cholesterol detection can help identify early symptoms of diseases like atherosclerosis, venous thrombosis, cardiovascular diseases, heart disease, myocardial infarction, hypertension, and cancer.
The project, led by Neelotpal Sen Sarma, a retired professor; Dr Asis Bala, an Associate Professor; and Nasrin Sultana, a DST INSPIRE Senior Research Fellow incorporated the material - the silk fibre -- into a cellulose nitrate membrane to create an electrical sensing platform for cholesterol detection.
The synthesised sensors were highly sensitive as well as selective for cholesterol detection. Furthermore, the electrical sensing platform generates no e-waste, a key advantage of the fabricated device.
Both sensing platforms respond similarly to real-world media such as human blood serum, experimental rat blood serum, and milk. The work has been published in the "Nanoscale" Journal, published by Royal Society of Chemistry.
Detecting fatal diseases at their earliest symptoms is essential, as abnormal biochemical markers may sometimes accompany such disorders. Therefore, reliable point-of-care (POC) detection of biomarkers associated with these diseases is necessary for personalized health monitoring.
Cholesterol is an essential lipid in humans, produced by the liver. It is the precursor for vitamin D, bile acids, and steroid hormones. Cholesterol is necessary for animal tissues, blood, and nerve cells, and it is transported by blood in mammals.
There are two types of cholesterol: LDL (low-density lipoprotein), often referred to as 'bad' cholesterol because it can accumulate in the walls of arteries and contribute to severe diseases, and HDL (high-density lipoprotein), known as 'good' cholesterol.
— IANS
Reader Comments
This is amazing! My father has heart issues and regular cholesterol monitoring is so important. If this device becomes widely available, it could save so many lives. Kudos to the IASST team! â¤ï¸
Interesting research, but I wonder about the cost and scalability. Many great Indian innovations never reach the common people because of pricing issues. Hope this one breaks that trend.
The no e-waste aspect is brilliant! So many medical devices contribute to pollution. This seems like a win-win for both patients and the environment. When can we expect to see this in hospitals?
As someone who works in biotech, I'm impressed by the use of silk fiber with phosphorene quantum dots. The sensitivity to detect below preferred range is remarkable. Indian science is really stepping up!
The article mentions testing on rat blood serum - I hope they move quickly to human trials. Early detection of cardiovascular diseases could be life-changing for so many families. Fingers crossed for fast approvals!
While the technology sounds promising, the article doesn't mention how long the test takes or if it's as accurate as current lab tests. These details matter for clinical adoption. Still, great to see Indian innovation in medical diagnostics.
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