New Delhi, July 24
A group of scientists from the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Calicut has developed a new highly sensitive, low-cost, and point-of-care device with an electrochemical biosensor that could rapidly diagnose deadly sepsis infections and boost treatment outcomes.
Sepsis is a serious medical condition caused by an infection that can lead to multiple organ failure, shock, and even death. Early and accurate diagnosis is crucial for timely therapeutic intervention and improving patient outcomes, which in turn directly impact mortality rates.
Early diagnosis is possible with the precise and sensitive detection of specific biomarkers. Endotoxin, a toxic component of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, acts as a key biomarker, signalling the presence of an infection that could lead to sepsis.
To rapidly detect endotoxin, the NIT team developed eight distinct sensor architectures. Of these, seven employed electrochemical detection, and one utilised optical detection, said the team led by Dr. N. Sandhyarani, Professor, NIT Calicut.
In the paper, published in the journal Langmuir, the team demonstrated a highly sensitive electrochemical sensor chip designed for the selective detection of Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which is compatible with a portable analyser for on-site detection.