Can IIT Guwahati's New Nanosensor Detect Cancer-Causing Pollutants in Water?

New Delhi, Sep 1 (NationPress) Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati have created an innovative sensor using milk protein and thymine that can identify contamination from mercury and antibiotics in water, both of which are linked to cancer risks.

As urbanization, industrial practices, and pharmaceutical overuse surge, water contamination has become an urgent global concern, threatening ecosystems and public health.

This team engineered the nanosensor from materials that are merely a few billionths of a meter in size.

The sensor employs carbon dots that emit light when exposed to ultraviolet rays. When toxic agents such as mercury or tetracyclines are present, the luminescence of these carbon dots diminishes, offering a rapid and clear indication of contamination, even at minimal levels.

“Identifying pollutants like mercury and antibiotics is crucial, not just in water but also in biological fluids. Mercury is highly carcinogenic, and excessive antibiotics can have detrimental health impacts. Our sensor can detect these substances at very low concentrations,” explained Prof. Lal Mohan Kundu, Professor in the Department of Chemistry at IIT Guwahati.

Tetracyclines are a group of antibiotics often prescribed for pneumonia and respiratory infections. If improperly disposed, they can infiltrate the environment, leading to water contamination, antibiotic resistance, and a range of health risks.

Similarly, organic mercury can induce cancer, neurological disorders, cardiovascular issues, and other severe health conditions. Rapid and precise detection of these pollutants is vital for safeguarding water quality and public health.

Published in the journal Microchimica Acta, this project involved synthesizing carbon dots from cost-effective and biogenic sources: milk protein and thymine—a nucleobase.

The innovative sensor can also be utilized in biological systems, according to Kundu, who noted that “the selection of carbon dots stemmed from their nanoscale size and natural fluorescence. This results in a highly sensitive detection method.”

In laboratory settings, the sensor yielded precise results, showing a measurable reduction in its glow within less than 10 seconds upon contact with harmful pollutants.

It is exceptionally sensitive, detecting mercury at just 5.3 nanomolar (1.7 parts per billion), below the safety guidelines of the US Environmental Protection Agency, and 10-13 nanomolar for tetracycline antibiotics.

To confirm its versatile applicability, researchers examined the sensor in various environments, including tap water, river water, milk, urine, and serum samples.

Moreover, to facilitate quick and accessible testing, the research team developed simple paper strips coated with the sensor, enabling easy detection of water contamination using an ultraviolet lamp.

This groundbreaking sensor not only offers a cost-effective and highly accurate alternative to traditional water testing methods but also possesses biocompatibility, suggesting potential for broader biomedical applications in the future. Further validation is required before commercial deployment.