Central University of Kerala researchers develop self-testing equipment to detect sodium in blood, urine

Express News Service

KASARAGOD: A staff of PhD researchers on the Central University of Kerala (CUK) has developed a self-testing equipment to detect sodium focus in urine and blood serum, which may revolutionise scientific analysis.

The nanotechnology-based sodium sensor is part of the PhD work of Dr Neeli Chandran (30) and was revealed in Nature’s ‘Scientific Reports’. 

“Today, we have to go to a (clinical) lab and do an electrolyte test to find if there is any sodium imbalance in our body. The test will cost us at least Rs 150. But our paper-based dipstick cost just Rs 20. If produced on a commercial scale, it would be much cheaper,” mentioned Dr Chandran, who was guided by Prof Swapna Nair of the Department of Physics.

The sodium sensors are a collaborative work of the Department of Physics and the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the college. Diabetes and kidney sufferers are vulnerable to sodium imbalance, which might set off a sequence of great issues reminiscent of nausea, complications, fatigue, reminiscence loss, muscle weak spot, cramps, seizures, and cardiac points, mentioned Prof Rajendra Pilankatta, head of the Department of Biochemistry. “Patients can also show behavioural abnormality, faint or even slip into a coma,” he mentioned.

So early and straightforward detection of sodium imbalance generally is a life-saver, mentioned Prof Pilankatta, who co-guided Dr Chandran.

Four years of rigorous work

Dr Chandran, and PhD students Prajith J and Manikanta B spent 4 years creating the sodium testing equipment in Prof Swapna Nair’s lab, which specialises in biosensors, web of issues sensors, magnetic area sensors, optical, UV and infrared sensors.

The sodium sensor was made by inserting curcumin, a chemical derived from turmeric, on prime of three to 9 nanometres-thick copper particles, mentioned Prof Nair. The curcumin coating protects the nano-copper from getting oxidised. “The end synthesized product is an ink-like solution called quantum dots which we use to print the paper strips,” she mentioned.

The Quantum dots value Rs 10,000 may be printed on 500 strips, that’s Rs 20 for a strip. The strip reacts with the sodium in urine or blood serum and produces a novel color relying on the sodium focus. “We have developed a chart with nine colours for users to compare their strips. Each colour gives a range of sodium concentration in their urine or blood serum,” Prof Nair mentioned.

For urine, the studying must be above 20 mili-equvalence per litre (mEq/ l) and for blood serum, it must be between 135 and 145 mEq/ l, mentioned Prof Pilankkata. “A reading below 125 is problematic,” he mentioned.

AZoNano, a web based platform for the nanotechnology group, reviewed the paper revealed in ‘Scientific Reports’ and mentioned: “The development of sodium sensors is of high clinical relevance.”

Although sodium focus detection strategies reminiscent of ion-selective electrodes and ion chromatography give correct outcomes, their excessive price, advanced technicality and excessive pattern requirement restrict their common utilization, it mentioned. “To this end, paper-based dipsticks are cost-effective, user-friendly alternatives that can give rapid results,” it mentioned.