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Smart Nanodevice for detection of Disease

Posted on March 18, 2021 by admin1  31

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Recently, scientists at the National Institute of Animal Biotechnology (NIAB) has developed a smart nanodevice for the detection of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) and Japanese Encephalitis (JE).

  • Scientists have been awarded the prestigious Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) Women Excellence Award.

SERB Women Excellence Award

  • The award instituted by the SERB, Department of Science and Technology (DST), recognises and rewards outstanding research achievements of young women scientists in frontier areas of Science and Engineering.

About Developments

  • The smart nanodevice developed by the scientists helped in the detection of the biomarkers of the diseases using graphene functionalized with amine and conjugated with specific antibodies.
  • The developed sensor offers several key advantages, such as ultra-high sensitivity, ease of operation, and a short response time, that can be easily integrated into a chip for point-of-care testing.
    • The developed sensor exhibited a clear advantage over conventional techniques, and it is highly sensitive.
  • Work is based on understanding the mechanism of interaction between nanomaterials and biomolecules on the surface of devices called transducers that receive energy from one system and transmit it for the development of a new generation of biosensors for clinical diagnosis of bacterial and viral disease, veterinary and agricultural applications, food analysis and environmental monitoring.
  • More steps
    • Scientists have developed an electrochemical as well as a microfluidic-based nanosensor for the detection of pesticides used primarily to control foliage and soil-borne insect pests in Fruits and Vegetables.
    • In a parallel study, the lab has developed ultrafast sensing of a biomarker of cancer.
      • The developed cancer biosensor called urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) may be used as a quantitative tool, making it a tenable alternative for the detection of uPAR in cancer patients.
    • Recently, the lab has fabricated quick, sensitive microfluidic devices for toxin (Aflatoxin M1) detection in milk and meat samples with specific molecules called aptamers.
    • They have developed a microfluidic paper device for the rapid detection of aflatoxin B1 for on-site detection of food toxins for both qualitative and quantitative analysis in food safety.

Significance

  • They can improve early diagnosis of the diseases, ensuring prompt, more effective, and less expensive treatment.
    • Scientists are focusing to develop new cost-effective and field-applicable analytical devices which offer Point of Care (POC) diagnostics for early detection of disease, facilitating timely management to resolve healthcare problems.
  • New technology for High Electron Mobility Transistor will make India self-reliant in power transistor technology

Rheumatoid arthritis

  • It is an autoimmune and inflammatory disease, which means that your immune system attacks healthy cells in your body by mistake, causing inflammation (painful swelling) in the affected parts of the body.
  • It commonly affects joints in the hands, wrists, and knees.
    • It can also affect other tissues throughout the body and cause problems in organs such as the lungs, heart, and eyes.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD)

  • It is a general term for conditions affecting the heart or blood vessels.
  • It’s usually associated with a build-up of fatty deposits inside the arteries (atherosclerosis) and an increased risk of blood clots.
  • It can also be associated with damage to arteries in organs such as the brain, heart, kidneys and eyes.

Japanese encephalitis virus JEV

  • It is the most important cause of viral encephalitis in Asia.
  •  It is a mosquito-borne flavivirus and belongs to the same genus as dengue, yellow fever and West Nile viruses.
  • The first case of Japanese encephalitis viral disease (JE) was documented in 1871 in Japan

Source :PIB

 
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