New Delhi, Jan 6 – Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Guwahati, have pioneered a groundbreaking method to enhance the detection of cholesterol and triglycerides through the integration of Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) with nanoscale objects, as reported by officials.

The results of this innovative research have been published in the esteemed journal, Biosensors and Bioelectronics.

Dipankar Bandyopadhyay, a Professor at the Centre for Nanotechnology and the Department of Chemical Engineering at IIT-Guwahati, explained that the study utilizes bimetallic nanostructures that are 10,000 times thinner than a human hair. This advancement allows for high-fidelity detection of crucial biomarkers present in human blood.

Bandyopadhyay emphasized the importance of metabolic biomolecules such as cholesterol and triglycerides in maintaining cardiovascular health. He noted that high-density lipoproteins (HDL) and low-density lipoproteins (LDL) are responsible for transporting cholesterol to various cellular sites for essential metabolic functions. An imbalance between LDL and HDL can lead to the formation of arterial plaque, resulting in hypertension, blood clots, or ischemia.

Additionally, triglycerides (TGA) are converted into fatty acids and glycerol during digestion, which are then packaged into very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL) for cellular transport. Elevated triglyceride levels can contribute to serious health issues, including atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, pancreatitis, type 2 diabetes, and fatty liver disease.

Given these health implications, Bandyopadhyay stressed the necessity for timely detection and continuous monitoring of cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood. While traditional lipid profile tests are reliable, they often require laboratory settings, lack point-of-care availability, and can be time-consuming in delivering results.

IIT-Guwahati’s research team has concentrated on a technique that merges nanotechnology with molecular detection, paving the way for a point-of-care device that offers enhanced diagnostic precision.

The researchers utilize SERS-active bimetallic nanostructures, specifically silver-shelled gold nanorods, which facilitate a plasmonic resonance hybridization of silver and gold. This combination results in improved spectral resolutions compared to using pure silver or gold nanorods.

Furthermore, these bimetallic nanorods are linked to two distinct Raman-active receptors and are immobilized with the enzymes cholesterol oxidase and lipase. This setup allows for the simultaneous detection of varying concentrations of cholesterol and triglycerides. Such advancements contribute to the development of an ultrafast point-of-care detection kit with significantly enhanced sensitivity.