Synopsis
IIT Guwahati researchers have developed a novel nanomaterial that provides a cost-effective approach for detecting toxic metals like mercury in human cells, facilitating advancements in disease diagnostics and environmental monitoring.Key Takeaways
- Novel nanomaterial developed for detecting mercury.
- Non-toxic to live mammalian cells.
- Enhances imaging through multiphoton absorption.
- Significant sensitivity for mercury detection.
- Potential applications in drug delivery.
Guwahati, Jan 27 (NationPress) Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati have unveiled a groundbreaking nanomaterial that offers an economical solution for detecting harmful metals such as mercury within human cells.
Exposure to mercury via polluted food, water, air, or skin can result in severe health complications, including nervous system damage, organ failure, and cognitive decline.
The research team has engineered stable metal halide perovskite nanocrystals that can identify toxic metals like mercury in live cells without inflicting any damage.
This innovation holds the potential to transform disease diagnostics and environmental assessment by enhancing the detection and management of metal toxicity in living systems, according to the researchers.
“A notable characteristic of these perovskite nanocrystals is their narrow emission linewidth, which significantly boosts sensitivity through a high signal-to-noise ratio for metal detection,” stated Prof. Saikat Bhaumik, Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics at IIT Guwahati.
Prof. Bhaumik emphasized that conventional imaging techniques often encounter challenges with light scattering, which complicates the process of obtaining clear images from deeper layers of cells.
“The perovskite nanocrystals' capability for multiphoton absorption addresses this challenge, facilitating sharper and more intricate imaging. These features render them ideal for advanced fluorescence imaging in medical and biological studies,” he remarked.
To ensure the long-term functionality of the nanocrystals, the research team encased them in silica and polymer coatings, significantly enhancing their stability and luminescent intensity in aqueous environments, thereby making them exceptionally effective for real-world applications.
The enhanced nanocrystals emit a bright green light when exposed to specific wavelengths, allowing for precise identification of mercury ions, which pose risks even in trace amounts.
Furthermore, these nanocrystals exhibited exceptional sensitivity, successfully detecting mercury concentrations as low as a few nanomolar levels.
When tested on live mammalian cells, the nanocrystals proved to be non-toxic, maintaining cellular functionality while diligently monitoring mercury ions.
In addition to detecting mercury, these nanocrystals could potentially aid in identifying other harmful metals in biological systems and can be adapted for drug delivery, enabling real-time assessment of therapeutic effectiveness.
