IIT Kanpur, Sensa Core Sign Agreement For Technology Transfer Of Novel Strip That Revolutionizes Analysis Of Bilirubin In Human Blood

The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Sensa Core Medical Instrumentation Pvt. Ltd. for mass manufacturing and sales of a novel point-of-care technology developed at the institute for rapid analysis of bilirubin in human blood/serum along with its three variants.

The inventive technology developed at the National Centre for Flexible Electronics (NCFlexE), IIT Kanpur, by Prof Siddhartha Panda, Department of Chemical Engineering, and Dr Nishant Verma, according to a statement from the institute, discloses the fabrication of a non-enzymatic electrochemical sensing strip that can simultaneously detect the direct and total bilirubin in a single drop of blood, and provide the concentrations within a minute.

“Developing effective point-of-care technologies for enriching the healthcare system has been a priority at IIT Kanpur. This novel sensor makes detection of bilirubin levels in blood easier, and it would revolutionize the processes leading to the detection of certain health conditions,” Director IIT Kanpur Prof Abhay Karandikar said.

He said the incorporation of a unique five-electrode configuration would allow the detection of direct and total bilirubin on a single strip, simultaneously. “Through this MoU, we hope to cater to the healthcare sector in effectively marketing this invention for better utility of all.”

The non-enzymatic electrochemical sensor is specifically designed for accurate detection of bilirubin levels in clinical samples.

Bilirubin is a pigment in our blood, detecting the level of which can help diagnose certain health conditions, such as Neonatal jaundice. It is a prevalent clinical condition, affecting roughly 60% of full-term and 80% of preterm new-borns with a mortality rate of 7.3 per 1000 live births in India.

“The conventional methods of detection have limitations. The developed sensor is portable, affordable and can be directly applicable for blood sample analysis without the need for any preliminary processing steps. This sensor is expected to be used for bedside testing, in diagnostic laboratories, and even in health screening centers,” IIT Kanpur said in a statement.