IIT Jodhpur Researchers Develop Nanosensor for Quick Detection of Cytokines

New Delhi: A team of researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT Jodhpur) has developed a nanosensor which will be able to detect cytokines rapidly. 

Cytokines are signalling proteins that help control inflammation in your body. They allow your immune system to mount a defence if germs or other substances that can make you sick enter your body. 

The nanosensor will be able to swiftly detect the amount of cytokines which in turn will minimalise death rates caused by delayed diagnosis and a lack of early warnings. The technology will also be useful in developing swift and on-the-spot health monitoring, diagnosing diseases, predicting outcomes, and tracking immune responses.

According to the official statement released by IIT Jodhpur, "This development aims to reduce the mortality rate occurring due to delayed diagnosis and a lack of early warnings. Moreover, the technology has immense potential to be used as a rapid and point-of-care technique for health monitoring, disease diagnosis, prognosis, and immune response tracking”.

The work was published by Ms Akilandeshwari B, Department of Bioscience and Bioengineering, Mr Sarvar Singh, Department of Electrical Engineering, Prof. Ajay Agarwal, Head, Department of Electrical Engineering, and Prof. Sushmita Jha, Department of Bioscience and Bioengineering at IIT Jodhpur as a conference proceeding of IEEE Applied Sensing Conference (APSCON) 2023 .

Talking about the developed technique and its future scope, Prof. Ajay Agarwal, Department of Electrical Engineering, IIT Jodhpur, said, “This technique which is currently in its development stage has provided exciting and encouraging results for three biomarkers i.e. interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-β (IL-β), and TNF-α which are key pro-inflammatory cytokines, released by inflammatory cells. As of now, the testing is done for controlled samples, but the team aims to take the technology to clinical trials soon. The group is also using this technique, to develop detection protocols for the early-stage and quick diagnosis of Sepsis and Fungal infections.”

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) are the only methods of detection of cytokines available now. Though accurate, the procedures are time consuming, requires skilled staffs and a sample preparation or analysis duration of more than 6 hours.

The nanosensor developed by IIT Jodhpur puts an end to all these drawbacks. It uses Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy to identify analytes, even at minimal concentrations. It relies on semiconductor process technology and operates on the Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) principle. This makes it possible to detect cytokines within 30 mins and in a much inexpensive way. 

It is also paired with artificial intelligence (AI) for swift and precise data processing and analysis. By facilitating quicker and more reliable diagnoses of autoimmune diseases and bacterial infections, this sensor has the potential to revolutionize patient care. It enables prompt diagnosis and monitoring of a patient's condition, guiding the course of their treatment effectively.

Latest Updates on IIT Jodhpur:

• IIT Jodhpur Researchers Developed Smartphone-Based Glucose Testing System
• IIT Jodhpur M.Tech-PhD Dual Degree Admission 2024 Open; Apply till April 20

Subscribe to Collegedunia to get the latest educational news and updates –