IIT Palakkad team builds fluorescent sensors for rapid heparin testing

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Palakkad have developed fluorescent chemosensors capable of measuring heparin levels in blood, an advance that could make anticoagulant monitoring quicker and simpler.

Heparin is a blood thinner used during cardiac surgery, dialysis and blood transfusions. Its dose has to be tightly controlled: too little can allow clots to form, while too much can trigger excessive bleeding.

The team, led by Shanmugaraju Sankarasekaran with research scholar Noushija M.K., designed the sensors to work through fluorescence rather than the clotting-time measurements that underpin current monitoring methods.

How the sensor works

The sensor emits a bright yellow-green signal that dims in the presence of heparin, so the drug's concentration can be read with basic equipment. According to the researchers, the sensor molecules can be synthesised in a single step, which could lower production costs and simplify manufacturing.

The team also reported that the sensors can selectively pick out heparin even in complex samples such as human serum.

Path to the clinic

The technology could eventually be shaped into point-of-care diagnostic devices for patients on anticoagulant therapy. However, further development and testing are required before it can be deployed in clinical settings.

"This technology combines simplicity with high precision, making it highly promising for real-world clinical use," Dr. Sankarasekaran said.