GUWAHATI: Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati on Monday, January 27, announced the development of a nanomaterial that can detect toxic metals like mercury in human cells.
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This breakthrough has been touted as a cost-effective solution to address metal toxicity in the human body.
According to the team, the innovation could transform disease diagnostics and environmental monitoring by improving the detection and management of metal toxicity in biological systems.
Prof. Saikat Bhaumik, Assistant Professor, Department of Physics, IIT Guwahati, highlighted the features of the nanocrystals, stating, “Their narrow emission linewidth enhances sensitivity due to a high signal-to-noise ratio, making metallic detection more accurate.”
Traditional imaging methods often struggle with light scattering, which limits clarity, especially from deeper cell layers. However, the nanocrystals developed by IIT Guwahati overcome this challenge through multiphoton absorption, enabling sharper and more detailed imaging. These properties make the nanocrystals highly suitable for advanced fluorescence imaging in medical and biological research.
Beyond mercury detection, the researchers also believe that these nanocrystals could play a pivotal role in identifying other toxic metals and be adapted for drug delivery systems, enabling real-time monitoring of treatment efficacy.
Mercury exposure, often resulting from contaminated food, water, air, or skin contact, is known to cause severe health issues, including damage to the nervous system, organ failure, and cognitive decline.