IIT Guwahati Pioneers Nanomaterial for Mercury Detection in Cells and Environment

IIT Guwahati has pioneered the development of a cutting-edge nanomaterial designed for the detection of mercury in both biological cells and the environment.

IIT Guwahati Pioneers Nanomaterial for Mercury Detection

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati, led by Prof. Saikat Bhaumik, Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics, in collaboration with Prof. Chandan Goswami, Associate Professor at NISER Bhubaneswar, have developed an innovative, cost-effective approach for detecting harmful metals like mercury in living cells and the environment. This breakthrough has the potential to transform disease diagnostics and environmental monitoring by significantly enhancing the detection and management of metal toxicity in biological systems.

The research is perovskite nanocrystals, advanced materials renowned for their remarkable properties, which make them highly suitable for detecting metal ions. These nanocrystals, around 100,000 times smaller than a human hair, interact with light in unique ways, allowing them to function as fluorescent probes within living cells. However, their rapid degradation in water has previously restricted their practical applications.

To address this, the researchers encapsulated the perovskite nanocrystals in silica and polymer coatings, significantly enhancing their stability and luminescent intensity in water. This modification ensures the nanocrystals maintain their functionality over extended periods, making them highly effective for practical use.

Commenting on the breakthrough, Prof. Saikat Bhaumik, Assistant Professor, Department of Physics, IIT Guwahati, said, “One of the standout features of these perovskite nanocrystals is their narrow emission linewidth, which is desirable for improving the sensitivity due to the high signal-to-noise ratio for metallic detection. Traditional imaging methods often struggle with light scattering, making it difficult to capture clear images from deeper cell layers. The ability of the perovskite nanocrystals to undergo multiphoton absorption overcomes this limitation, allowing for sharper and more detailed imaging. These properties make them ideal for advanced fluorescence imaging in medical and biological research.”

The applications of this research go beyond mercury detection. These nanocrystals could be crucial in identifying other toxic metals in biological systems and have the potential to be adapted for drug delivery, allowing real-time monitoring of treatment effectiveness.

The findings of this research have been published in prestigious journals, including the Journal of Materials Chemistry C and Materials Today Chemistry. The articles were co-authored by Prof. Saikat Bhaumik and his research team, which includes Prof. Chandan Goswami, Ashutosh Mohapatra, Kajol Sahoo, Tusar Kanta Acharya, Satish Kumar, and Nishant Kumar Dubey.

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