How IIT Jodhpur's Sensor Could Pave Way For Early Disease Detection

When it comes to medical diagnostics, time is often a critical factor. The ability to swiftly and accurately detect diseases can mean the difference between life and death, between manageable conditions and irreversible complications. Taking account of this critical factor, researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur (IIT Jodhpur) have revealed a groundbreaking innovation: a nanosensor designed to swiftly detect cytokines, a crucial group of proteins linked to inflammation. This pioneering development holds immense promise, aiming to not only expedite disease diagnosis but also potentially save lives by offering early warnings and rapid medical support.

Understanding the Significance of Cytokines

Cytokines, acting as inflammatory biomarkers, play a huge role in diagnosing diseases and monitoring their progression. These proteins wield influence in a spectrum of physiological processes, from planning immune responses to modulating tissue repair mechanisms. Their significance is highlighted in the areas of precision medicine and therapeutic development, with implications spanning conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis, Diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, and beyond.

The Birth of a Game-changing Technology

Under the leadership of Ms. Akilandeshwari B and Mr. Sarvar Singh from the Departments of Bioscience, Bioengineering, and Electrical Engineering, along with the guidance of Prof. Ajay Agarwal and Prof. Sushmita Jha, the research team at IIT  Jodhpur has achieved significant progress in medical science. Their recent breakthrough, featured in the 2023 IEEE Applied Sensing Conference (APSCON), highlights a new nanosensor that has the potential to revolutionize disease detection methods.

This sensor, utilizing Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy, has the remarkable ability to detect substances, even at very low levels, for the early detection of diseases. Grounded in the principles of Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) and utilizing semiconductor process technology, this innovation represents a significant advancement in precision and selectivity.

Traditional methods such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) have been reliable for detecting cytokines. However, they come with drawbacks like lengthy analysis times, often over 6 hours, and the necessity for specialized expertise. Now, when this sensor steps in, providing unmatched efficiency, it completes analysis in just 30 minutes and offers cost-effective solutions as well.

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.”

The Intersection of Technology and Healthcare

The marriage of this sensor with artificial intelligence (AI) heralds a new era in medical diagnostics. Combining rapid detection abilities with AI-driven data processing, there's a clear potential for precise and speedy disease diagnosis, holding great promise for patients as they can receive timely and accurate insights into their conditions, leading to better-guided medical treatments.